Trinidad legislators repeal unpopular law on cases

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – Legislators in Trinidad have repealed an unpopular law that would have allowed judges to dismiss certain court cases 10 years-old or older that haven't yet gone to trial.

Trinidad's House of Representatives and Senate voted overwhelmingly to repeal the law Thursday with five independent senators voting against it.

Trinidadians who opposed the law said it would give the government the power to throw out certain cases, including one against a former prime minister and other government officials charged with receiving millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks from a U.S. contractor in the 1990s.

U.S. authorities have long sought the extradition of two suspects in the bribery case and opposed the law as well.

Trinidad's Attorney General Anand Ramloga said the law was repealed retroactively to protect the government from any legal challenges.