| Former
Government Minister Brian Kuei Tung appeared at Port-of-Spain
Magistrates’ Court yesterday for the second time, to answer
16 corruption charges involving $1.6 billion, arising out of
the second phase of police investigations into the Piarco Airport
development project.
He is jointly charged with his girlfriend and businesswoman
Renee Pierre, former Airports Authority chairmen Tyrone Gopee
and Ameer Edoo and former Nipdec chairman Edward Bayley.
Senior Counsel Reginald Amour, Allan Alexander and Ian Brooks
are representing Kuei Tung and Pierre; attorney Stewart Young
and Christopher Hamel-Smith SC appear for Bayley, while Russell
Martineau SC and attorney Gillian Lucky appear for Edoo and
attorney Nyree Alfonso-Towfeek appears for Gopee.
All five appeared before Magistrate Ejenny Espinet to face
11 charges stemming from offences which allegedly occurred
between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2001.
Kuei Tung received an additional five charges.
The charges state that all five conspired with others to obtain
contracts and payments of a total value of up to $1.6 billion.
It was not until 10.30 am that the matter was called and the
charges which include having secret offshore banking accounts,
abuse of public office and corrupt or unlawful payments to
foreign and local contractors, were read.
Hamel-Smith applied for bail for Bayley, stating that he “is
a businessman who is well connected in Trinidad.”
“He
has a wife and son and should be granted bail with surety,”
Hamel-Smith said.
Prosecutor Frank Thompson SC told Espinet he was instructed
by Director of Public Prosecutions Geoffrey Henderson not
to object to bail but to ensure that stringent measures were
in place for Bayley.
“We
want him to report to a police station in his district and
surrender his travel documents and Trinidad passport and any
other documents,” Thompson said.
He said there was information that Bayley had residency status
in Costa Rica.
Thompson said there were no extradition treaties between T&T
and Costa Rica.
Therefore, “he (Bayley) can go there to escape the law,”
Thompson said.
Hamel-Smith objected.
However, Thompson said some of the stringent measures he wanted
should include “the accused reporting to a police station
every Tuesday and Saturday, because that is when there are
direct flights to Costa Rica.”
Espinet then set bail at $2 million on the condition that
Bayley report to Four Roads Police Station every Tuesday and
Saturday between 8 am and noon, and also surrender all travel
documents and passport.
The other accused were granted $1 million bail each.
The matter was adjourned to tomorrow. (DR)
Additional
charges
Between August 26, 1999, and August 31, 1999, corruptly received
for himself from Northern Construction Limited a reward in
the sum of $50,000, namely a deposit to an account in his
name at RBTT Bank Ltd.
Between October 27, 1998, and November 27,1999, corruptly
received for his own use a gift from Northern Construction
Limited, namely air-conditioners to the value of $77,480.
Between August 29,1999, and August 31,1999, did by himself
corruptly receive from NCL an advantage in the sum of $150,000,
namely payment of a visa credit card account in his name at
First Citizens Bank.
Between February 1, 2000, and August 17, 2000, did corruptly
receive from NCL an advantage, namely the payment of the sum
of US$335,000 to Leslie Florez, an attorney in Florida, together
with a further sum of US$465,000. (An estimated total of TT$5
million).
Between August 26, 1999, and August 31, 1999, did corruptly
receive from NCL an advantage in the sum of $80,000, namely
payment of a visa credit card account in the name of Brian
Kuei Tung and Ellen Kuei Tung at RBTT Ltd.
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