Mystery mortgage payment made

Carrington said too much money was paid on his mortgage, so he got a $25,000 refund. He did not know where the money came from, but when he got the refund, he put it in Five Star’s account without asking any questions.

Carrington’s admission was made when he was cross-examined by Gilbert Peterson SC. Five Star Ambulance Services is seeking to recover $6.5 million from Ann Huggins and Medical Emergency and Dispatch Services Ltd (MEDS).

The matter is being heard before Justice David Myers in the Port-of-Spain Civil Court. Dr Claude Denbow SC, Darryl Allahar and Faris Al Rawi appear for Five Star, while Peterson, Kerwyn Garcia, and Gillian Seecharan-Scott represent Huggins and MEDS.

Carrington told the court yesterday that he received a letter dated December 22, 2003 from Huggins, which stated among other things that she paid out monies. A sum of $50,287.50 was paid to attorneys M Hamel-Smith and Co; and $125,000 in Carrington’s personal bank account.

On Monday, Carrington told the court that his company hired Huggins to negotiate a settlement with TSTT which had disconnected his telephone service. But he said that the settlement money never reached his company, although it was paid.

Yesterday, Carrington said he got wind that payment was made by TSTT. “I began pressing her (Huggins). She said she was leaving for the United States and she would fill me in when she came back. She said she could not tell me what was the settlement because it was made under a non-disclosure agreement.”

Carrington said around December 18 or 19, 2003, he went to Ian Atherly, a director at TSTT, and was informed that the telephone company had paid out money. “I found out that monies were paid - $6.5 million. I called Mrs Huggins to ascertain whether that was a fact, but she said when she gets back she would fill me in. She never filled me in. She returned after Christmas and called me. We began to speak about the settlement. Again, she mentioned that she could not inform me of the settlement.”

Carrington said he told Huggins that he was the principal shareholder of Five Star and that he needed to know about the agreement, but she insisted she could not speak about it. Carrington said he spoke to attorney Phillip Hamel-Smith following which he went back to Huggins.

“I asked Mrs Huggins to level with me. She became aggressive and annoyed.”

A TSTT cheque for $6.5 million paid to MEDS was tendered into evidence. Carrington said Huggins never asked him about approving the settlement money be paid to MEDS. “I never saw that name before. I was shocked and appalled at what went on. I saw the deceit in the entire thing. These monies belong to Five Star, that is why I took legal action.” Peterson produced a document but Carrington said the signature on it was not his. As a result, Peterson made a request that the document be examined by a handwriting expert at the Forensic Sciences Centre.

Hearing continues this morning.