Thursday, March 4, 2010

American businessman turns state witness in TT Airport corruption case

The Piarco Airport corruption case resumes next week in Trinidad and Tobago with one key defendant switching sides.

American businessman Ronald Birk is expected to appear in court Monday as a witness for the State.

Local media reports say the prosecution had been trying to keep the lid on the latest development and so far the details of the arrangement with Birk have not been disclosed.

However, one report states that under the deal, the State will withdraw charges against Birk in exchange for his testimony.

Birk first appeared in the Trinidad courts on August 15, 2005, and was granted $2.5 million cash bail.

He was co-owner of the firm, Birk-Hillman, which won the contract to design and the $1.6-billion Piarco Airport Terminal. The other co-owner, Eduardo Hillman-Waller, is serving a three-year term in the U.S.

Birk and others have charged with corruptly receiving more than $144 million in contracts between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2001.

The other defendants include Steve Ferguson, Ish Galbaransingh, Amrith Maharaj, Brian Kuei Tung, Sadiq Baksh, Ameer Edoo, Tyrone Gopee and Peter Cateau.

Four companies have also been charged—Calmaquip Engineering Corporation, Fidelity Finance and Leasing Co Ltd, Northern Construction Ltd and Maritime General Insurance Co Ltd.
Ferguson and Galbaransingh are wanted on 95 charges in Florida and have been fighting to avoid extradition to face the charges.


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Jai & Sero

Jai & Sero

Our family at home in Toronto 2008

Our family at home in Toronto 2008
Amit, Heather, Fuzz, Aj, Jiv, Shiva, Rampa, Sero, Jai