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Greypatch wrote:I never knew there were so many appeals..
sheit go and face the music like big men !!
SUPAstarr wrote:jail for all
Greypatch wrote:I never knew there were so many appeals..
sheit go and face the music like big men !!
bushwakka wrote:Greypatch wrote:I never knew there were so many appeals..
sheit go and face the music like big men !!
big men doh dance
Scoobert Bauce wrote:SMH.... but on the other hand theyre not "free" they still have face trial here
Scoobert Bauce wrote:SMH.... but on the other hand theyre not "free" they still have face trial here
wagonrunner wrote:i believe the PP used the words accountability, and integrity in their manifesto.
Que es UML?
he US government has expressed "disappointment" regarding the decision of Attorney General Anand Ramlogan not to appeal Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh's decision not to extradite businessmen Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson.
Galbaransingh and Ferguson, two financiers of the United National Congress, are wanted in the US to answer charges related to fraud and money laundering.
A release from the US Embassy yesterday described extradition as "a powerful tool in the fight against transnational crime".
"The Government of the United States and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago have had a bilateral extradition treaty in place since 1996. Our governments work together closely to extradite suspects to both countries. Though we are very disappointed in the outcome, we value our relationship with Trinidad and Tobago and will continue to work with the government on other extradition cases," the release stated.
In mid-November, when US Attorney General Eric Holder visited this country, he held consultations with Ramlogan to discuss the extradition matter, the Express learned. During that visit, Holder told a media briefing that he was satisfied with the relationship between this country and the US in terms of extradition policies.
"We have worked quite well in extraditing in both directions people to stand justice in both of our nations," Holder had said at the briefing.
However, on Monday, a media release issued by Ramlogan confirmed that he would not be appealing the matter. Ramlogan said his decision not to appeal was based on advice received from Queen's Counsel James Lewis.
Yesterday, another media release from Ramlogan, issued shortly after the US release, reiterated that the AG's decision to not appeal remains intact.
"Of paramount importance is the question of where...the defendants are likely to be brought to justice in the quickest and shortest possible time," the statement said.
"Not appealing means that the way is cleared for courts in Trinidad and Tobago to commence the trial of the defendants without further delay. It does not mean that the defendants will walk free without facing trial--a possible prospect if the State appealed. The Attorney General has every confidence in the ability of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to competently and fairly try these defendants and deliver justice according to law. "
His statement concluded, "Like the United States of America, the state of Trinidad and Tobago has also incurred great expense in this matter in which close to $100,000,000 has been expended in time and money. The defendants have exercised all their pre-trial legal options and the road is therefore now clear for the criminal justice system to get into high gear and commence their trial."
In an interview with the Express yesterday, acting Public Affairs Officer at the US Embassy Alexander McLaren, when asked whether the US believes that justice was served with regard to the men not being extradited, said the businessmen are "still subject to prosecution in T&T". Pressed further, McLaren said he could not comment on ongoing judicial matters.
The US was satisfied with the counsel (attorneys Avory Sinanan SC and Kelvin Ramkissoon) retained by Ramlogan to handle the matters, McLaren shied away from a direct answer, except to say that the US respects the legal and judicial institutions of this country.
TWO days after Attorney General Anand Ramlogan indicated he will not pursue an appeal in the extradition of former UNC financiers Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson, the United States government has gone on record to say it was “disappointed” by the outcome of the case.
The United States (US) Embassy in Trinidad yesterday issued a statement on the latest development in the extradition case of Galbaransingh and Ferguson, which effectively puts a halt to the two facing criminal prosecution in a US Federal Court.
“We are disappointed in the outcome of the Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson extradition case,” the first line of the statement read.
On Monday, the same day the 24-day period for the State to appeal the ruling of High Court Judge Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh expired, Ramlogan said he was not going to file an appeal.
In its statement, the US Embassy noted that extradition was a crime-fighting tool and was used by countries all over the world including the US and Trinidad and Tobago.
“The Government of the United States and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago have had a bilateral extradition treaty in place since 1996.
“Our governments work together closely to extradite suspects to both countries,” the US Embassy’s statement emphasised.
Galbaransingh and Ferguson were first indicted in 2005 in Miami Federal Court on numerous fraud and money laundering charges stemming from alleged bid-rigging between 1996 and 2005 on contracts for the Piarco International Airport. They faced up to five years’ imprisonment on the various conspiracy counts, and up to 30 years’ imprisonment on the bank fraud count
“The United States has pursued their extradition since 2005,” the United States Embassy reminded yesterday. “Extradition is a powerful tool for fighting transnational crime and is used by countries all over the world including the United States and Trinidad and Tobago.
“Though we are very disappointed in the outcome, we value our relationship with Trinidad and Tobago and will continue to work with the Government on other extradition cases,” the US Embassy’s statement said.
Speaking at a toy distribution drive in her Siparia constituency yesterday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said she was unaware of the US Embassy’s statement and directed all queries to the Attorney General (AG).
Ramlogan, in another statement yesterday, said he was not surprised that the US was disappointed in the outcome of the extradition case. However, he said, “Trinidad and Tobago is an independent sovereign state with a written Constitution, laws and a legal system of its own and the AG is duty bound to respect and have regard to the judgment of the Supreme Court in Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.
Yesterday, he said, legal challenges of the extradition process may be protracted for another three to five years and given the alleged offences occurred over a decade ago, the lapse of time in the matter could realistically amount to between 18 to 20 years.
“Ironically therefore to appeal would further prolong the already unsatisfactory pre-trial delay in a matter that has had a colourful, complicated and meandering history,” he said.
“The longest rope must have an end and there is a real risk that the defendants could altogether escape the prospect of a criminal trial if an appeal is pursued by the State,” he said.
“Of paramount importance is the question of where are the defendants likely to be brought to justice in the quickest and shortest possible time. An appeal would have resulted in the defendant’s remaining on bail whilst they continue to muscle their way through a thus far accommodating legal system. It was unlikely that they could even face trial in the United States of America before expiration of a further eight to ten years,” he said.
Ramlogan noted that not appealing meant that the way was cleared for the local courts to commence the trial of the two without further delay.
“It does not mean that the defendants will walk free without facing trial; a possible prospect if the State appealed,” he said.
He said he had every confidence in the local Supreme Court to competently and fairly try the men and deliver justice.
“Like the United States of America, the state of Trinidad and Tobago has also incurred great expense in this matter in which close to $100 million has been expended in time and money,” he said.
Adding that Galbaransingh and Ferguson have exercised all their pre-trial legal options, Ramlogan said the “road is therefore now clear for the criminal justice system to get into high gear and commence their trial.”
“The objective of both systems of criminal justice is one and the same and it is time that the pre-trial legal adventures stop and the defendants be tried according to law,” Ramlogan noted.
Boodoosingh, on November 7, quashed the AG’s decision to sign the extradition warrants against the two.
Boodoosingh, in his ruling on the judicial review application sought by the two, said the signing of the extradition warrant was “unjust and oppressive,” and that they should face trial in a local court.
In January 2007, at a sentencing hearing in Miami, a US federal court judge publicly criticised the slow pace of the local prosecution of those allegedly involved in the bid-rigging scam. Miami district court judge Paul C Huck said he was not encouraged by the pace of the case in the local courts.
“I haven’t been all that encouraged with the speed in which they are moving down in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Ferguson alone was wanted on an 82-count indictment, including charges of laundering US$3,255,345 ($20,508,673) between the period November 24, 2000 and March 28, 2002. Galbaransingh was wanted on a 13-count indictment, including charges of laundering US$1million ($6.3 million) between the period June 19, 2001 and December 10, 2001. They were charged in accordance with Sections 44, 45 and 46 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2000.
A United States grand jury returned the indictment against the two on November 29, 2005.
Charges against Galbaransingh and Ferguson in the local courts were discontinued, in favour of prosecution in the American courts.
Ramlogan said his decision not to appeal now paves the way for the Director of Public Prosecutions to take the necessary steps to law indictments against the two businessmen in respect of the charges against them in relation to the Piarco expansion project, as they have been committed to stand trial in the Assizes.
Six foreign nationals were convicted and sentenced in the US for defrauding the TT Government.
According to the US case, the scam allegedly involved rigging the bid process to secure construction contracts by arranging for a shadow bidder to submit a fraudulent and over-inflated bid. It also allegedly included what was called loan kiting — the borrowing of money from one bank to pay off a loan from another bank and hiding the skimmed profits in offshore accounts.
Several US banks were defrauded and a civil lawsuit was filed by the TT Government in the US, aimed at recovering more than US$100 million in compensation damages.
In 2009, former AG John Jeremie said government had recovered in excess of a quarter billion dollars ($250 million) in compensation as a result of civil lawsuits filed in foreign courts and restitution from those convicted in the US in relation to the airport scandal.
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