Monday, 09 August 2021 12:26

PNP Bigwigs to Testify in Open Court Next Next March

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Former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller is scheduled to appear in open court March next year to provide answers in the more than a decade’s long Trafigura Beheer corruption probe.

She will be joined by former PNP chairmen Phillip Paulwell and Robert Pickersgill, former Cabinet Minister, Colin Campbell, and business man Norton Hines, when the matter is called up in the Supreme Court.

Bert Samuels, who is representing the senior PNP officials, and Mr. Hines, says his clients will all be in court.

The parties have been advised of the dates by the Registrar of the Supreme Court.

The Dutch authorities want to question Mrs. Simpson Miller, Messers Paulwell, Pickersgill, Hines and Campbell in relation to a 31 million dollar donation to the PNP by the Dutch oil firm Trafigura Beheer.

The gift is alleged to be a violation of Dutch law.

Jamaica’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Paula Llewellyn, is the designated central authority under the Mutual Assistance Treaty.

Ms. Llewellyn’s team of prosecutors will be questioning the five individuals on behalf of the Netherlands.

She says her office is ready to proceed in the matter.

Earlier this year, the UK based Privy Council dismissed an appeal by the five individuals, clearing the way for them to testify in open Court.

The Trafigura scandal rocked the Simpson Miller administration in 2007 leading to the resignation of then Information Minister Colin Campbell.