AG will consider legal representations in extradition case of Ish and Steve

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan on Friday gave businessmen Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson seven days to make representation to show why they should not be extradited to the United States, The Trinidad Guardian reported Saturday.

They face 95 charges in Miami relating to the construction of the Piarco Airport Terminal building.

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council has refused to grant them leave to appeal.

They had sought Ramlogan's intervention to block the extradition. The AG has now given them an opportunity to make representation in accordance with Section 16 of the Extradition Act.

The paper said in a letter to lawyers for Ferguson and Galbaransingh dated June 10, Ramlogan noted the Privy Council's denial of leave to the two men.

"In keeping with the stated position in previous correspondence, the Honourable Attorney General is proceeding along the legal basis adopted by his predecessor and now invites your clients to make representations within seven days,” the AG said.

Ramlogan said his poistion follows natural justice principles.

When he receives documentation from the lawyers he would make a ruling on whether the two men should be extradited to the United States to face charges.

Ferguson and Galbaransingh have been on $1 million bail since their arrest in 2006. On May 4, 2006, a grand jury in Florida, returned an indictment against Galbaransingh, Ferguson and six others in relation to corrupt practices concerning two packages for the construction of the airport terminal building.

Six Americans have pleaded guilty and were sentenced to terms between six months and six years. The case against Galbaransingh and Ferguson is still pending.

In a media release Friday the two men stated that the battle against their extradition is far from over.

"If the Attorney General’s decision is unfavourable...the Appeal Court has already ruled that they must be given a reasonable time to judicially review the Attorney General’s decision in the High Court and at that stage they will have the right to go all the way to the Privy Council."