COME March 6, Former Permanent Secretary of The Ministry of the Presidency, Omar Shariff , and his reputed wife Savatri Hardio, will go on trial for failing to comply with a production order contrary to Section 26 of the Anti Money Laundering Act.This was disclosed on Monday by City Magistrate Fabayo Azore when the matter was called before her for report,and statements were filed by Special Prosecutor, Patrice Henry.

At Monday’s hearing,the prosecutor had made an application for a joint trial for the defendants, with a total of seven witnesses expected to testify. Magistrate Azore scheduled March 6, for the commencement of trial and will also rule on the prosecution’s application.

The couple was charged on January 23, after they failed to comply with the production order issued by the Chief Justice, Yonette Cummings-Edwards, after a summons was served by the High Court to produce certain named documents to Assistant Police Commissioner, Sydney James within seven days. They pleaded not guilty.

The duo was ordered to report every other Monday to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). Omar Shariff was fired from the post of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency. The ministry said his services have been terminated with effect December 31, 2016.

Shariff, the subject of a probe into alleged financial crimes by SOCU, has denied such allegations but conceded that he has unsettled tax matters with the Guyana Revenue Authority in relation to the sale of phone credit.