A United National Congress (UNC) councillor is granted $130,000 in bail after appearing in court on a charge of misbehaviour in public office.
Anil Maharaj, a Councillor at the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation, was granted $130,000 bail with a surety when he appeared virtually before the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Maharaj, the UNC Councillor for Cumuto/Tamana, appeared before Magistrate Maureen Baboolal-Gafoor.
The matter was transferred to the Sangre Grande Magistrates’ Court and adjourned to August 4.
Maharaj is to surrender his passport to the Court Registrar at the Sangre Grande Magistrates’ Court and have no contact with the witness.
He is also to report to the Sangre Grande Police Station between 6 am and 6 pm every Wednesday.
Maharaj was arrested on Thursday by a team of officers from the AntiCorruption Investigations Bureau (ACIB). The arrest followed a meeting between officers of the ACIB and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard SC, who gave advice to charge Maharaj with one count of misbehaviour in public office.
It is being alleged that between January 1 and June 30, 2021, Maharaj demanded the sum of $15,000 from a contractor at the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation.
Maharaj is the Chairman of the Finance Committee at the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation.
