By Denyse Renne, www.guardian.co.tt

Former Works and Transport Minister Sadiq Baksh appeared before a Port-of-Spain magistrate yesterday, to answer corruption charges, after he surrendered to Anti-Corruption Squad officers earlier in the day.

Baksh arrived at the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s Richmond Street, Port-of-Spain, headquarters at 9.15 am, accompanied by four attorneys.

He was slapped with two corruption charges stemming from the second phase of police investigations into the $1.6 billion Piarco Airport development project.

The initial charge was laid under the Larceny Act and states that he conspired to obtain contracts and payments or settlements of a total face value of $1.6 billion.

The charge states that the Piarco Airport design and project management package which was awarded to Birk Hillman Consultants, a Miami firm, which developed the design for the terminal, Northern Construction Ltd, the company which received contracts for Construction Packages (CP) 4,5 and 6, Calmaquip Engineering, which received the contracts for CP 9 and 13, were unlawfully obtained.

As a result, the $1.6 billion obtained as corporate revenue for performance of the contract was corruptly or unlawfully paid to the total value of $144,048,858.

The charge further states that the UNC, NCL, Eduardo Hillman, Ron Birk, former Government Minister Brian Kuei Tung, Maritime executive Steve Ferguson, NCL chairman Ishwar Galbaransingh, project consultant Raul Gutierrez, Maritime Life Insurance, Maritime General Insurance Co Ltd and the Maritime Fidelity Insurance and Leasing Co all received contracts and money by falsely pretending that the process in getting the contracts was open, honest and competitive.

Baksh’s second charge was made under the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1987.

That charge states that between July 8,1999, and December 10,1999, Baksh corruptly obtained from Northern Construction Ltd for the UNC, the sum of $2,592,012.59, being the payment of a debt owed by the UNC to Diversified Communications Ltd, as a reward for Baksh either favouring or disfavouring interest of NCL in relation of the Piarco project.

Kuei Tung, businesswoman Renee Pierre, former Airports Authority chairmen Tyrone Gopee and Ameer Edoo, former Nipdec chairman Edward Bayley, Galbaransingh and Amrith Maharaj, chairman and CEO of Northern Construction respectively, and Maritime executive Steve Ferguson were all charged with offences arising out of the same project on Tuesday.

At 10 am, Baksh arrived at the First Magistrate’s Court where he appeared before Magistrate Ejenny Espinet.

His matter was called at 10.50 am and a sombre looking Baksh stood in the prisoners’ dock with both hands at his side, looking occasionally at the ceiling as the charges were read.

Baksh is being represented by attorneys Chaitram Sinanan, Prakash Ramadhar, Kevin Rattiram and Imran Khan SC.

In an application for bail, Rattiram said his client had heard of warrants being issued for his arrest and had surrendered.

"This is a clear indication that he is not trying to evade the jurisdiction. Bail has been endorsed by the Clerk of the Peace at $1 million to cover all charges," Sinanan said.

Sinanan then requested a reduction in bail, saying Baksh travelled to work every day from South to North and has a "string of businesses."

Sinanan said: "He is 53 years old and this is his first time before court. He does not even have a traffic offence."

Adding that Baksh has three children, was a senator and a member of the Upper House, Sinanan said Baksh had "strong social ties and a reduction should be considered."

However, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Carla Brown-Antoine objected, saying "it is reasonable."

"Considering the charges, I do not think the sum placed needs a reduction. Bail has been fixed reasonably," Brown-Antoine said.

Espinet agreed with Brown-Antoine, saying, "Unless there are different circumstances, I will not change the bail. There have been instances where I have raised bail. But I will leave it as is."

Also appearing for the State is Gilbert Peterson SC.

The matter was adjourned to this morning, when all nine accused will reappear.

PNM smokescreen says Sadiq

UNC Senator Sadiq Baksh yesterday said he was not worried by the two corruption charges laid against him.

In fact, Baksh says he is ready to face the charges and challenges.

Speaking with reporters as he entered the Anti-Corruption Bureau on Richmond Street, Port-of-Spain, Baksh said he was innocent of the charges and was not worried, since they were "a diversion on the part of the PNM, who are trying to use the judicial system to conduct their campaign."

"They may be preparing for an early election, but the charges that I heard are as bogus as the missiles and cocaine in my water tank," Baksh said, referring to the discovery of $1.5 million worth of cocaine and two mortar bombs found in a water tank at his home in 2001.

"It is a case of PNM at work for diversion and deception to sidestep the issues of crime and poor performance," he said.

Baksh said the PNM knew his political strength and he had no intention of bending to victimisation.

"Every time the PNM have serious murders and rising crime, they try to divert the public’s attention, but they will not get me to sit down like a wimp in a corner."

However, sources told the Guardian that 12 people and five companies had so far been charged.

Nine people have already appeared before a magistrate.

The three people charged but yet to appear before the court are Peter Cateau, Ron Birk and Eduardo Hillman.

"Warrants have been executed and the remaining three are out of the country," the source said.

"They have a choice of coming to face the charges voluntarily or we will go and find them and bring them here to face the charges."

The source said that the five companies charged - NCL, Calmaquip Engineering Co Ltd, Maritime Life Insurance, Maritime General Insurance Co Ltd and Maritime Fidelity Insurance and Leasing Co - would be brought before the court via summonses.

The source said after today’s court appearance by the nine accused, the remaining people and companies charged would appear at the next hearing date.