Embattled Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma owes the State in excess of TT$1.5 million (US$250,000) following his failed bid to prevent his arrest on a charge of seeking to pervert the course of public justice, Attorney General John Jeremie has said.

Jeremie, responding to a question posed by Wade Mark, the Leader of the Opposition Business in the Senate, said that Sharma had been ordered to pay all legal costs incurred by the State in his matter before the London based Privy Council, the island's highest court.

One local newspaper said Wednesday that the legal bills could reach TT$6 million (US$1 million) since "among other things the Attorney General did not give the Upper House, the cost incurred by the State in retaining the services of English Queen's Counsel Sir Godfrey Le Quesne...(who) addressed the Privy Council on the State's behalf".

"As the State was victorious, the Privy Council awarded costs to the State to be paid by Mr. Sharma. So you need not worry as to where the funds are coming from," Jeremie said in response to Mark's question.

Asked by the opposition legislator whether Sharma would have to pay the money," the Attorney General replied "unfortunately".

Sharma had also lost at the local High Court.

Jeremie told legislators that Sharma had to pay the estimated TT$1.5 million to a battery of local lawyers used by the State to defend the motions filed by the embattled Chief Justice to prevent his arrest following allegations by Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls that he (Sharma) had sought to influence the outcome of the trial involving former prime minister Basdeo Panday.

Panday was given a two year jail term for failing to declare a London bank account to the Integrity Commission during the period he served as Prime Minister. He has since appealed the conviction.