Lawyers continue debate

Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls yesterday upheld arguments made by the defence that the prosecution has to bring forward more extracts to support an RBTT Bank document presented in court yesterday during the Piarco Airport Inquiry. When the preliminary inquiry resumed, members of the defence objected to the document, saying the prosecution was attempting to tender a document, which they felt needed a more in-depth exposure, into evidence. In explaining the situation to the Chief Magistrate, prosecution attorney and Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Carla Browne-Antoine, cited from legal authorities, submitting the act allows for a banking officer to say whether the entries in the banking document are true and correct, therefore making the document admissible into evidence.

Browne-Antoine said that two banking officers had signed the document. However, defence attorney Vernon De Lima SC, said, “It is not good practice to have a document like that stamped. That stamp cannot certify the original document. We are not sure of where exactly that document came from, and that is what the prosecution must prove.” After hearing the submissions from both sides, the Chief Magistrate ruled that the prosecution needed to produce more evidence to support their arguments. “I am not saying that the document is inadmissible, but the declaration does not meet the requirements of the act.

The person who made this declaration cannot simply say that this is from the books. Further evidence is needed,” said Mc Nicolls. 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. Hearing resumes today.