New document causes uproar

Taking the witness stand was former chartered insurance consultant, Bernard Kenneth Aquing, who was cross-examined at length by defence attorney Frank Solomon SC, and later relieved by presiding Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls.

After Aquing’s testimony, the State was called on to bring the next witness. The name Lynette Maharaj was called, but objections were immediately raised by defence attorney Allan Alexander SC, causing the Chief Magistrate to ask the witness to step outside.

"I am asking Your Worship not to allow the prosecution to embark on this bit of evidence due to the late disclosure of information pertaining to this witness. We do not even know if this is relevant," argued the attorney.

Alexander continued, "We did not have any indication that this witness was coming. I thought a Nipdec employee was going to be the next witness to be called."

In the prosecution’s defence, Senior Counsel Gilbert Peterson explained that they did not know if the document had been disclosed before and were only, as a matter of precaution, disclosing it to the prosecution before the witness was called.

Defence attorney Vernon De Lima then rose to his feet, asking Mc Nicolls to adjourn the matter since he felt the next witness to be called would be considered pertinent to the case of one of the eight accused.

"Only 15 minutes ago we were given this document. I consider this a very important document for Mr Huggin’s (Russel) case and I wish for Mr Martineau (attorney Russel Martineau SC) to be shown this information before we proceed."

Following the applications, the Chief Magistrate adjourned hearing for the rest of the day. Hearing resumes today.

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 former government ministers Brian Kuei Tung and Russel Huggins; CEO of Northern Construction Ltd (NCL) Ish Galbaransingh; CEO of Maritime General Insurance Company John Henry Smith; Maritime Group of Companies chairman Steve Ferguson; company secretary Barbara Gomes; businesswoman Renee Pierre, and Fidelity Insurance and Leasing Company Ltd.