State witness’ credibility questioned

Attorney Hema Singh who was cross-examining forensic accountant Raimundo Lima Levi, sought to tarnish the witness’ claim of being an expert witness in Forensic Accounting and Telecommunications Regu-lations.

Levi was giving evidence against businessman Ish Galbaransingh, former Chairman of the Maritime Group of Companies Steve Ferguson, former government ministers Brian Kuei Tung and Russell Huggins, Maritime CEO John Henry Smith, Maritime Group of Companies secretary Barbara Gomes, Amrith Maharaj, businesswoman Renee Pierre and Fidelity Insurance and Leasing Company Ltd.

They are before Mc Nicolls charged with a total of 21 offences relating to the new Piarco Airport Terminal development project.

Immediately following that hearing, all the accused, with the exception of Huggins, Pierre and Gomes, appeared before Magistrate Ejenny Espinet along with former UNC Senator Sadiq Baksh, Ameer Edoo, Peter Cateau and Eduardo Hillman. Tyrone Gopee, Ronald Birk and Raul Gutierrez, who were not in the jurisdiction, were allowed appearances through their attorneys. At the request of his attorneys Pamela Elder SC and Osbourne Charles SC, Hillman was allowed to leave before completion of the hearing to catch a 2.30m pm flight.

The men, along with five companies, are facing charges arising out of the Piarco Airport Terminal development project.

When hearing resumes on September 7, defence attorneys will continue submissions in an attempt to prevent the matter from being determined via a paper committal. The prosecution team is being headed by attorney Gilbert Peterson SC.