By RICHARD LORD, Express

AGENTS acting on behalf of former prime minister and UNC leader Basdeo Panday have written to the London Home Office requesting that the British Government delay, in the first instance, or refuse to assist the Trinidad and Tobago Government with information being sought with respect to his controversial London bank account.

Questioned on the development yesterday, Panday said he had not written any such letter but could not speak for his attorneys on the matter.

The Express understands that the letter, dated August 24, 2002, cited political interference and political harassment as his reasons for requesting that the British Government refuse to co-operate with the Trinidad and Tobago authorities in the investigation.

The T&T Government has been seeking the information under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the Central Authorities in London.

The police are investigating the controversial London account which was first investigated by the Integrity Commission after Panday had failed to inform the body of the account.

The Integrity Commission subsequently passed the matter over to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Geoffrey Henderson, who, in turn passed it over to the Commissioner of Police for further investigations.