Omar Shariff gets back passport to study law

Omar Shariff, who was charged with failure to comply with a court order amid a money laundering probe, was Tuesday released on surety and had his passport returned so he can study in Trinidad and Tobago.

His attorney, Sanjeev Datadin made an application for his client’s passport to be returned so he can pursue his studies at the Hugh Wooding Law School.

Special Prosecutor Patrice Henry had no objections and Magistrate Fabayo Azore ordered that the passport be returned.

However, Shariff is required to lodge the passport at the court whenever he returns to Guyana.

He was released on $1 million surety and the case was adjourned to September 17, 2018.

Shariff, who served as Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of the Presidency, is currently on trial after he was charged with failing to comply with an order issued by the then Chief Justice Yonette Cummings Edwards.

The order required that he submit certain documents to the Head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) Sydney James.

Shariff and his wife, Savitri Hardeo were jointly slapped with the charge in January 2017.

SOCU had launched an investigation into the source of large sums of money discovered in Shariff’s personal bank account.

During his first court appearance, the public official was released on self-bail and was required to lodge his passport.