Lawyers block Lindquist search

THERE was drama at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain at midnight on Wednesday, when two Port-of-Spain lawyers succeeded in getting an ex-parte injunction to block both local and foreign investigators from searching their St Vincent Street offices yesterday as the probe into the construction of the controversial desalination plant continues. Madame Justice Amrika Tiwary, who is sitting in the Port-of-Spain Chamber Court this month, arrived at the Hall of Justice shortly before midnight as attorney Om Lalla, instructed by Darrel Allahar, presented their case on behalf of Dr Claude Denbow SC, and his wife Donna. The application for an ex-parte injunction was sought hours before one Paul Kelly was due to participate in a search with members of the Anti-Corruption Investiga-tions Bureau of the Denbows offices.

The Denbows filed the action against Attorney General John Jeremie, Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul, the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Senior Supt Maurice Piggott, Inspector John Telesford, and Kelly. Telesford and Kelly works with the Bob Lindquist investigations team hired by Government to investigate a number of projects including the desal plant and the $1.6 billion Piarco Airport Terminal Development Project. Kelly, an attorney and former FBI agent of Boston, Massachusetts, has been engaged by the Attorney General’s office and authorised to investigate the facts and circumstances surrounding the awarding of the bid to construct and operate the desalination plant at Point Lisas to Desalcott. Denbow has acted as attorney-at-law for Desalcott since its inception in June 1999, and for Hafeez Karamath since October 1997.

Denbow stated that he was informed by attorney Randy Depoo that he was present with Karamath on January 14 when Telesford, Kelly and Lindquist executed search warrants on several companies at El Socorro, San Juan, and at Desalcott’s offices at Point Lisas on January 26. Denbow pointed out that the investigation is being conducted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau with  Kelly as its lead investigator. On January 27, at Karamath’s request, Denbow said he attended an interview conducted by Kelly at which Telesford and Lindquist were present. According to Denbow, the purpose of his attendance was in order to assist Karamath in identifying and recollecting the names of a number of corporate entities. The focus of the questioning was in relation to a suspicion by the interviewers that some corrupt payment may have been made to a public official during the period 1998 to 1999 in order to influence the award of the desal plant.

Denbow said he was informed by a secretary at his office on Tuesday, that someone identifying himself as Paul Kelly phoned saying he wanted to speak to him yesterday about Karamath. Denbow said he did not immediately return the call because he was occupied. On Wednesday, when he returned to his office around 4 pm, he was informed by another secretary that Kelly had called again and said he would be visiting his office yesterday. Denbow said he was informed that Kelly was in possession of a search warrant which he intended to execute at his office yesterday, and that he (Denbow) must be present. Denbow said to the best of his knowledge, Kelly was not a police officer and not authorised by law to execute, assist and/or participate in the execution of any search warrant at his offices.

He said that neither he nor his wife have any documents in their possession which the Anti-Corruption Bureau may want. Denbow fears that the pending threat to invade his offices will disrupt the functions of his office and intimidate his employees; that documents relating to his local and overseas clients will be trespassed upon, that the State may do as it did in the case of Hafeez Karamath; leak the case to the media with the consequent sensational publications. “Such an occurrence would do irreparable harm to my reputation which I have built up over 30 years among corporate clients, both locally and overseas, who have entrusted their work to me on the basis of confidentiality,” Denbow said. The case has been adjourned to March 16.