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Piarco Airport corruption scandal
By Carol Matroo, www.guardian.co.tt
Three businessmen were granted $5.5 million bail yesterday, after answering charges of alleged corruption arising out of the Piarco Airport development project.
Ishwar Galbaransingh and Amrith Maharaj, chairman and CEO of Northern Construction respectively, and Maritime executive Steve Ferguson appeared before Magistrate Avason Quinlan in Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Four B Court, where the charges were read out to them.
In all, 13 charges were read out to the accused.
The three men had earlier surrendered themselves to the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau at Caribbean Court of Justice, Richmond Street, Port-of-Spain, after learning warrants had been issued for their arrests.
UNC senator Sadiq Baksh, who was also supposed to turn himself in, was noticeably absent.
It was later learnt that he was sitting in the Upper House.
The media had gathered at the CCJ at around 8 am, awaiting the appearance of the accused, but it was not until 1.37 pm that the trio pulled up in a gold Audi and walked swiftly inside.
A few minutes later, their attorney, Sophia Chote, and their wives followed.
At 4 pm, they were taken to the Magistrates’ Court.
While awaiting the reading of the charges by Quinlan, the men joked and laughed with each other, while their wives sat quietly at the back of the courtroom, heads bowed and eyes closed, as though in silent prayer.
The men stood silently before Quinlan as she read the charges, which were all laid indictably.
The men were not called upon to plead.
Bail for Galbaransingh and Maharaj was set at $2 million each, while bail for Ferguson was set at $1.5 million. They will return to court tomorrow.
Chote, Veena Badrie-Maharaj and Varun Badrie-Maharaj are representing the accused, while Gilbert Peterson SC is acting on behalf of the State.
Charges laid jointly against
Ishwar Galbaransingh and
Amrith Maharaj:
Alleged to have given former UNC Minister Sadiq Baksh $2,592,120.59 as payment of a debt owed to the UNC.
Alleged to have given Brian Kuei Tung $150,000.
Alleged to have given Brian Kuei Tung, through American attorney Leslie Florez US$335,000 for the purchase of property in the US.
Alleged to have given Brian Kuei Tung and his wife Ellen $80,000.
Alleged to have given, as a gift to Brian Kuei Tung, air conditioners valued at $77,480.
Allegedly gave Brian Kuei Tung $50,000.
Attempted to defraud by taking US$1,728,740.
Charges laid jointly against Steve Ferguson, Ishwar Galbaransingh and Amrith Maharaj:
Receipt of US$2.1 million by fraudulent means.
Conspired to obtain contracts valued $1.6 billion.
Charges laid against
Ishwar Galbaransingh:
Fraudulently received US$318,000.
Fraudulently received US$2.1 million.
Charges laid against
Steve Ferguson:
Alleged to have given Brian Kuei Tung, through American attorney Leslie Florez, US$465,000 for the purchase of property in the US.
Alleged to have fraudulently received US$1,728,748.
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