In a major development regarding the Piarco inquiry, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Roger Gaspard, SC, has officially withdrawn the corruption case against former prime minister Basdeo Panday, his wife Oma, former minister Carlos John and businessman Ishwar Galbaransingh.

The DPP’s decision was made earlier today, March 6, when the matter came before magistrate Adia Mohammed.

According to Gaspard the reason for discontinuing the case was due to the fact that several key witnesses have now become unavailable, and this may prove detrimental to the state’s case as it would significantly lower the chances of a guilty verdict in the matter.

The charges were laid in 2005.