Defence: Who gave Citibank documents to police?

Members of the defence team of attorneys in the Piarco Airport Inquiry want the names of the persons who supplied the documents from Citibank to the police to be revealed. This, as prosecuting attorney, Gilbert Petersen, continued yesterday with the presentation of a number of financial documents to the court at the preliminary inquiry into the Piarco Airport project. Defence attorney Frank Solomon SC demanded that Petersen reveal the names of the persons, saying the prosecution had not brought forward any evidence to show that an order was served to Citibank, or that the bank provided the documents. Solomon was referring to the testimony given by head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Senior Supt Maurice Piggott, that he had in fact obtained certain documents from the bank.

“There is no evidence that Citibank was the recipient of that order. Whether he served it or not, he has to prove this to the court. Where is the identification of the authorised agent?” Petersen responded that the order was made by a High Court Judge to Citibank. According to Petersen, “The institution, in compliance with the order, put the documents in a box. The order was directed to a corporate person, so therefore this does not affect the admissibility of the order. Mr Piggott complied with the requirements.” Solomon continued, however, saying whether or not it was a person from Citibank authorised to receive the order, a recipient could have been anybody. “It is an insult to the intelligence of the court, that the bank will just leave the box by the door for Mr Piggott,” said Solomon.

After the argument, presiding Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls asked Piggott whether he recognised any of the signatures on the document. After Piggott’s response, the document was marked for identification. 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 Russel Huggins, former government ministers; Ish Galbaransingh, CEO of Northern Construction Ltd (NCL); John Henry Smith, CEO Maritime General Insurance Company; Steve Ferguson, Chairman of the Maritime Group of Companies; company secretary Barbara Gomes; businesswoman Renee Pierre, and Fidelity Insurance and Leasing Company Ltd. Hearing resumes today.