by Gregory Lal-Beharie, www.trinidadexpress.com

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of People's National Movement (PNM) party chairman and former Works and Transport Minister Franklin Khan on corruption charges to wit misbehaviour in public office

The warrant, said to be signed by Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls, yesterday followed investigations by the Integrity Commission and the Fraud Squad.

It lists six charges against Khan of corruptly receiving monies from PNM Local Government councillor Dansam Dhansook on six separate occasions.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between February and July of 2003.

Khan is accused of receiving more than $120,000 from Dhansook and his company Geoseis Services Ltd.

On May 8 this year, following a story by the Sunday Express, Khan announced his resignation as Works Minister following a PNM General Council meeting.

One month before, Prime Minister Patrick Manning admitted that he had referred corruption allegations against two of his Cabinet Ministers to the Attorney General John Jeremie who, in turn, referred it to the Integrity Commission. The results of that investigation were subsequently turned over to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Geoffrey Henderson. Henderon, upon receiving the file, sent the matter back to the Fraud Squad for further investigations which were carried out by ACP Wellington Virgil and Supt Glenroy Woodley.

Sources told the Express that the warrant against Khan would be executed on him at 9 a.m. today when he surrenders to the police in the presence of his attorney Gilbert Peterson SC.

Bail has already been fixed on the warrant and Khan is expected to face Chief Magistrate McNicolls shortly after.

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