By Prior Beharry

COMMISSIONER of Police Allister Guevarro received judicial warrants around 12.15 pm on Tuesday for the apprehension of  Minister of Housing and Member of Parliament for Caroni Central David Lee and proprietor of Sport Outlet Limited Hugh Leong Poi.

The warrants were filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) under Section 23(5) of the Indictable Offences (Preliminary Enquiry) Act, Chapter 12:01, according to the release from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS).

Both individuals were taken into custody by TTPS officers and are currently undergoing standard processing procedures, the release stated.

The release did not state what the charges were.

However, in April, Acting Chief Magistrate Christine Charles freed Lee and Leong Poi, after upholding no-case submissions from their attorneys and ruling that there was insufficient evidence to commit them to trial.

Lee and Leong Poi were initially charged in September 2022 with conspiring to deprive the State of tax revenue related to the importation of a Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG, valued at more than $2 million.

Lee also faced separate charges of misbehaviour in public office and falsely claiming ownership of the vehicle to claim tax exemptions.

The alleged offences involved VAT, motor vehicle tax, and customs duties totaling more than $1.4 million, with alleged activity occurring between March and June 2019.

DPP Roger Gaspard had indicated at the time that his office had initiated a review by a High Court judge to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to warrant a trial.

He explained that the process would involve a judge reviewing the magistrate’s decision and issuing a warrant if the judge disagreed. He noted that the process does not involve relaying charges.

If the High Court judge were to find the evidence sufficient, both men could be rearrested and brought directly before the High Court to face trial.