AMERICAN Raul Gutierrez yesterday failed to convince a Florida judge to dismiss criminal charges against him in the United States relating to the Piarco Airport Terminal project.

Gutierrez filed a motion seeking to have the indictment dismissed on the ground that he cannot get a fair trial having regard to charges laid against him in the US and in Trinidad. Judge Paul C Huck, presiding over the United States Southern District of Florida, heard submissions from both Gutierrez and the US Attorney’s Office. He then dismissed the motion and ruled that the trial of Gutierrez and other persons must proceed.

Trinidad businessmen Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson have been indicted by the United States Grand Jury on 60 counts including conspiracy to defraud and bank fraud in Florida. Last year, the Grand Jury indicted Galbaransingh and Ferguson on 60 of the 84 charges on the indictment.

Galbaransingh, owner of Northern Construction Limited and Ferguson, chairman of Maritime Insurance Company, are two of the persons charged in Trinidad with several offences arising out of the construction of the $1.6 billion Piarco Airport Terminal building project. Yesterday, Huck said Ferguson and Galbaransingh should make themselves available to be arraigned on the charges. He said if the Trinidadians submit themselves voluntarily, they would be granted bail and will be allowed to return to Trinidad to face charges here.

Huck stopped short of saying what would happen if the two businessmen have to be extradited to Florida.

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