An almost decade-long corruption case involving prime authorities officers and attorneys within the Turks and Caicos Islands ended Monday with a blended verdict for these accused of bribery, cash laundering, and different expenses.
The case had sparked outrage throughout the archipelago, which got here below direct rule by the British authorities in 2009 after it discovered widespread corruption within the Caribbean British territory.
Chief Justice Mabel Agyemang discovered former Deputy Premier Floyd Corridor responsible of bribery and of concealing the proceeds of felony conduct.
He was discovered not responsible of three counts of conspiracy to defraud.
His legal professional, Earl Witter, didn’t reply to messages for remark.
Agyemang additionally discovered legal professional Clayton Greene responsible of concealing the proceeds of felony conduct.
His lawyer didn’t reply to a message for remark.
As well as, Agyemang discovered former authorities minister Jeffrey Corridor and legal professional Melbourne Wilson not responsible of conspiracy to defraud.
Corridor’s legal professional, Ian Wilkinson, advised The Related Press that his shopper is grateful for a “simply and true verdict.”
“He had maintained his innocence from the start and is pleased to have been vindicated,” Wilkinson mentioned, including that Corridor would converse additional at a later date.
Wilson’s legal professional didn’t reply to a message for remark.
The suspects had been arrested after the British authorities suspended the Turks and Caicos authorities in August 2009 and imposed direct rule following a fee of inquiry that discovered systemic corruption within the Caribbean British territory.
A lot of the corruption consisted of bribery by abroad builders and others to safe authorities land on “beneficial phrases, coupled with authorities approval for its industrial improvement,” in keeping with the fee’s report.
A 2009 interim report additionally discovered “clear indicators of political amorality and immaturity and of basic administrative incompetence.”
