By: Staff Writer
October 9, 2025
Minister for Housing in Trinidad and Tobago, David Lee, was re-arrested late Wednesday for a fraud matter stemming back to 2019.
Lee, who is also the member of parliament for Caroni Central, was re-arrested with co-accused Hugh Leong Poi, a reported firearms dealer.
Lee was accused of falsely claiming that a vehicle he and Poi imported into the country was his in order to claim tax exemptions he was entitled to, as an MP.
Poi, the owner of Sport Outlet Ltd, who is also a licensed gun dealers, was charged with Lee for conspiring to defraud the State of $1.4 million in tax revenue related to the importation of a Mercedes Benz G63 AMG sedan valued at over $2 million.
The taxes in the case include $293,094.02 in value-added tax (VAT), $298,650 in motor vehicle tax and $824,548.62 in customs duty.
Meanwhile, Lee’s political leader and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is backing him in his bid to beat the charges again.
Shortly after 4 pm Wednesday, via a media release, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) said, “Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro received judicial warrants around 12.15 pm today, Tuesday 7th October 2025, for the apprehension of Mr David Lee, the Minister of Housing and Member of Parliament for Caroni Central, and Mr Hugh Leong Poi, the Proprietor of Sport Outlet Limited.”
The release added, “These warrants were filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) pursuant to Section 23(5) of the Indictable Offences (Preliminary Enquiry) Act, Chapter 12:01.”
The TTPS said without delay and in accordance with its legal mandate, both Lee and Leong Poi were taken into custody by officers and are presently undergoing standard processing procedures.
It added that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service remains committed to upholding the rule of law and executing all judicial instructions with integrity, impartiality, and procedural rigour.
Shortly after surrendering, Lee complained of feeling unwell and was taken to hospital, where he remained under police guard. Lee was granted bail in the amount of $1 million TT on Wednesday afternoon as well but was unable to attend the hearing because he and his co-accu