BY CURTIS WILLIAMS

A United States judge has called upon businessmen Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson to be arraigned voluntarily on corruption charges in Florida or face the consequences.

The judge made the call while dismissing a motion brought by Ferguson and Galbaransingh’s co-accused, Raul Gutierrez, in the US District court, Southern District of Florida.

Guiterrez went to the US court asking it to discontinue corruption charges against him, because he could not get a fair trial.

His attorneys argued before Justice Paul Huck in the US District court, Southern District of Florida, that it would be unfair for Guiterrez to face trial in the United States, since he was already facing similar charges in T&T.

However, the judge disagreed and dismissed the motion.

Galbaransingh, Ferguson and Gutierrez are facing several court charges in connection with the airport project.

The charges in the US stem from an alleged scheme to inflate bids for the Piarco Airport project, according to the indictment.

The indictment alleges that the Gutierrez-owned Calmaquip Engineering Corp, a Miami-based firm, and others conspired to fraudulently win contracts for works on the $1.6 billion airport project, by arranging for shadow companies to submit falsely inflated bids, so that their own bids, also inflated, would be accepted.

In dismissing the motion, Huck said if the two businessmen came voluntarily they will get bail, but if they are brought by force they will face the consequences.

Galbaransingh and Ferguson have so far refused to go to the US to face trial and the US authorities have threatened to have them extradited.

©2005-2006 Trinidad Publishing Company Limited

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