Defence lawyers: Throw out inquiry now

THE FAILURE of a prosecution witness to say when he placed his initials on a seized bank statement caused an uproar in the Piarco Airport corruption inquiry yesterday with two defence attorneys calling on Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls to dispose of the case forthwith. The testimony of Senior Supt Maurice Piggott, head of the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau, came to an abrupt end yesterday when he could not say for sure when he placed his initials on a bank statement which was seized from the premises of Northern Construction Limited (NCL) on January 30, 2002.

The bank statement was seized under a warrant dated January 29, 2002 which was finally admitted into evidence yesterday after the defence challenged its admissibility on September 27. As the bank statement was about to be tendered into evidence, Frank Solomon SC objected. Solomon said the document had initials on it, but not the date as to when the initials were placed there. Piggott could not remember when he did so.  He said he may have documented when he placed the initials on the statement, but he needed time to peruse his records which were not in court. As the Chief Magistrate was about to allow Piggott an opportunity to search his records, Solomon objected again. Solomon added, “He may very well go and consult something and come back with an answer. The prosecution should have asked him where and when he placed his initials there. He has no pocket diary, he treats that with the utmost contempt. You shouldn’t allow him to go and consult any thing outside.”

Solomon continued, “Now that he has failed to do so, I think that you should put an end to this matter. This will make nonsense of the proceedings. Why did he not date his initials? Who put him in that position? Does he not know he has to put the date? It is not for us to repair the prosecution’s case. You are giving them the opportunity to go and get the answer. “If he has a diary, let him consult with it, but don’t let him go and come back in court with the evidence,” Solomon added. Vernon De Lima described Piggott as the “Jack in the pack. He is the King of the prosecution witnesses.” He said the defence lawyers had checked the station diaries and there was nothing to show when Piggott placed his initials on the bank statement. De Lima was also against Piggott leaving the court to get the answer. He also asked the Chief Magistrate to dispose of the inquiry.

In agreeing for Piggott to search his records, Mc Nicolls said there was no requirement in law that a date must be placed on a document. “I have bent backwards to assist the inquiry in this matter. I will give the witness the opportunity to produce the documents, to refresh his memory and to disclose the documents to the defence.” The inquiry was then adjourned to today for Piggott to say when he placed his initials on the bank statement.

Eight persons and three companies are charged with a total of 21 offences relating to the new Terminal Development Project at Piarco Airport. They are Brian Kuei Tung and Russell Huggins, former government ministers; Ish Galbaransingh, CEO of Northern Construction Ltd (NCL); Amrith Maharaj, financial comptroller of NCL; John Henry Smith, CEO of Maritime General Insurance Company; Steve Ferguson, chairman of Maritime Group of Companies; Barbara Gomes; company secretary; businesswoman Renee Pierre; Maritime General Insurance Company; NCL; and Fidelity Insurance and Leasing Company Ltd.