Another prosecution witness falls sick

ANOTHER witness in the Piarco Airport Corruption Inquiry has fallen sick. This time, Senior Supt Maurice Piggott, head of the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau (ACIB) submitted a medical certificate for five days’ sick leave from the police doctor yesterday which stated that he was suffering from ‘‘hypertension, out of control.’’ Piggott was the second prosecution witness to have fallen sick on the eve of testimony. On July 6, Cpl Joanne Archie, who is also attached to the ACIB, went to Medical Associates in St Joseph complaining of stress. She was given seven days’ sick leave and was unable to continue her cross-examination.

According to lead prosecutor Gilbert Petersen SC, Archie is expected to attend court today. The medical certificate granted to Piggott caused an uproar in court as the defence challenged it. After hearing submissions, Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls said the doctor ‘‘seems to be a doctor of convenience.’’ Mc Nicolls said it was the same doctor who signed a medical certificate for a police complainant in a murder case last week. That policeman, according to Mc Nicolls, was told one day last week to return later in the day, only to have a medical certificate submitted by the same doctor as in Piggott’s case. When hearing resumed yesterday, Petersen informed the court that he had received a call from Piggott at 8.55 am that he was going to the doctor. He then produced the medical certificate from Archie. He said he was planning to put Piggott on the witness stand where he would have remained for days giving evidence-in-chief.

Frank Solomon SC said the defence was expecting Archie to give evidence yesterday. He said he was taken aback by Piggott falling sick. “We want to get on with this case,” Solomon added. Solomon questioned the medical certificate submitted and asked for an independent doctor to come and tell the court from what Piggott was suffering. Vernon De Lima said the police were ‘‘dropping all over the place when it is time for them to come to give evidence. They should be coming here. It is a disgrace. They want to play mas and ‘fraid powder.” Gillian Lucky said that despite the Chief Magistrate’s warning last week, the prosecution had not presented witnesses for testimony in court. She said it was hard to predict how long witnesses would take, so the prosecution should have been ready with other witnesses. “It is wholly unacceptable, you (Mc Nicolls) gave a stern warning last time. I don’t know if Mr Jenkins (British QC) is ill or has high blood pressure.” (Jenkins returned to England last Friday night.)

Chief Magistrate Mc Nicolls then asked Petersen if  Piggott was his last witness in the inquiry. PETERSEN: No, sir. I am also put out by Mr Piggott’s absence. I went to the High Court this morning to adjourn a matter and then come here. I recognise that you must have witnesses here. Mr Piggott was supposed to put in documents. I was taken by surprise this morning by his absence. I was prepared to call Mr Piggott this morning. I did not tell the other side that I was going to call Mr Piggott. Solomon said it was never suggested to the defence that Piggott was going to be called yesterday. He said the prosecution was planning to produce Piggott as their rabbit out of the hat. “But the surprise did not materialise. What are we to do? You have to deal with them. We want a witness today and we are ready. They have come once more and brought these proceedings to a stall.” De Lima demanded that the State proceed with the case. He said if they cannot, then the prosecution must announce that they cannot go any further.

Petersen then recalled Evans Small, former policeman, who gave evidence last week. No one asked him any questions. Mc Nicolls asked that the police doctor be brought to court. The inquiry was stood down. When it resumed, Petersen said he received a note from the doctor who stated he could not attend court because he had other patients to see. Petersen then submitted a medical certificate for Piggott. Solomon said he was not accepting the certificate from the police doctor and insisted that an independent doctor examine Piggott. “I don’t think Mr Piggott needs five days. What is hypertension out of control? I think it is frankly a fraud. The source is notorious. Bring the doctor to be cross-examined. Five days will take us to the adjournment. It is far too neat and convenient,” Solomon added.