Zane DeSilva, Progressive Labour Party MP, said he intends to prove his innocence after being charged with misleading a public officer over a fundraising dinner last year.

Mr DeSilva, who was charged yesterday alongside his daughter Zarah Harper and Angela Caldwell of restaurant group MEF, said: “I say straight away and without hesitation that we are completely innocent of any wrongdoing.

“It is our intention to demonstrate this and clear our names through the courts within the shortest possible timescale.

“To this end, we have pressed for the earliest possible hearing of these unwarranted charges in the court.”

Mr DeSilva, Ms Harper and Ms Caldwell were each charged with two offences that allegedly took place on or around July 1 last year.

Prosecutors alleged that the defendants “gave a public officer at the Ministry of National Security information which you did not believe to be true knowing it to be likely that you would thereby cause, a public officer to do something which such public officer would not otherwise do”.

Specifically, it was alleged the defendants provided a letter to the officer that said that an event would be a charity fundraising dinner in order to be granted an exemption to hold a large group gathering under the Public Health (Covid 19 Emergency Powers) Regulations.

They were all also charged with a second offence that they “dishonestly, with a view to gain for yourself or another, in furnishing information to seek an exemption to hold a large group gathering under the Public Health (Covid 19 Emergency Powers) Regulations produced a document to the Ministry of National Security required for an accounting purpose, which to your knowledge was or may have been misleading, false or deceptive in a material particular”.

None of the defendants were required to enter a plea as the case must be heard in Supreme Court.

But Mr DeSilva, the former Minister of Tourism, confirmed after the hearing that he would plead not guilty to the charges, which he called “ridiculous”.

He added: “It’s a shame. It’s a crying shame.”

Senior magistrate Juan Wolffe released the three defendants on $5,000 bail each and adjourned the case until April 1 Supreme Court arraignments session.

•It is The Royal Gazette’s policy not to allow comments on stories regarding criminal court cases. This is to prevent any statements being published that may jeopardise the outcome of that case.