June 24, 2019 is the date set by the United States Federal Judge Kiyo Matsumoto to hear the case filed by United States prosecutors against former International Business and Commerce Minister Donville Inniss.
Judge Matsumato handed down the order as Inniss made his third court appearance on Tuesday.
New York based attorney, Garnett Sullivan, remained upbeat about the legal battle. He told Barbados TODAY, “Mr Inniss has pleaded not guilty and will be maintaining his innocence. “
According to Sullivan, the evidence turned over thus far by prosecutors does not prove the charges, especially as it relates to the bribery, which allegedly occurred in Barbados
Inniss is charged with money laundering and conspiracy on an indictment which says in 2015 and 2016, he engaged in a scheme to take about $36,000 in bribes from high-level executives of an insurance company, later revealed to be the Insurance Corporation of Barbados.
The prosecutors said Inniss used his position as a government minister to help the insurer secure two Government contracts and that he concealed the nature of the bribes by receiving them through a dental company and a bank located in Elmont, New York, under the guise of payments for consulting services.
Is the Attorney saying Donville Inniss is another Teflon Don in the making?
Charges of corruption have not yet been filed against Donville Inniss or the three former ICBL executives for the bribery that is alleged to have taken place. Under the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1929 proceedings must be instituted within six months of discovery of the offence by the prosecutor. News of Donville Inniss’s arrest in the USA for money laundering was published on Monday, August 6, 2018… therefore the DPP has until Wednesday February 5, 2019 to institute proceedings against all these individuals.
However, the impending Integrity in Public Life legislation will supersede the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1929 so that old act will presumably be repealed upon passage of the new legislation. This will make it impossible to press any charges at all in this flagrant corruption case, because the accused cannot be charged under legislation that did not exist at the time of the offence, nor under legislation that has been repealed.
If the DPP in Barbados does not institute immediate proceedings this case it will reinforce the perception that the political class, both BLP and DLP, consider themselves to be above the law.
June 2019, this is a joke. They can’t convict him for bribery that occurred in Barbados. That’s outside their jurisdiction.
To convict him of money laundering, they have to charge those formerly employed by ICBL, and the owner of the dental company as the’re the ones who actually laundered the money. This is a nothing charge and I now honestly have to question the real motive behind this arrest, and who’s interest is being served?
The people of Barbados has nothing to gain from this.
Greengiant what do you mean the people of Barbados have nothing to gain by this?I think you mean the Dems have nothing to gain by this,as it would be a stain on your party.Mr Inniss has to prove his innocence as I do notthink the US government would charge someone without evidence,therefore GreenGiant this ain,t going awayno matter how much you wish it would as money laundering is a serious matter,especially by a Government minister.
GREENGIANT: Your comment is very interesting. So what is he guilty of?. Even if he is not found guilty, how will the Barbados public view this situation?. Will his reputation be tarnished?. Will he be able to continue being an active Politian in Barbados?. These are some pertinent questions, in my opinion that will still have to be answered. I wish him luck.
“To convict him of money laundering, they have to charge those formerly employed by ICBL, and the owner of the dental company as they’re the ones who actually laundered the money.” I don’t think so: if he sent ill-gotten money to a bank in the US it is money laundering.
Does Greeg Giant come to town with circus
@GREENGIANT ; are you Johnny Cockran? if it don`t fit, Acquit. Some one that went to the hearing said they had not seen any of his party members in the court to lend their support.
@RICHARD JOHNSTON; are you saying that the Feds don`t know what is money laundering? Whenever the case comes to trial, you will see who the witnesses are. @GREENGIANT; so you are saying that bribery is committed in barbados and the AG did nothing about it.
Go Donville we have this ..he that is without sin cast the first stone
@ T.SEEMS, in the words of former Prime Minister Freundal Stuart, “the political class looks after its own.” Do not hold your breath waiting for any of the past members and their associates of the previous administration to be hauled before the courts of Barbados for the millions of taxpayers money that cannot be accounted for,or have been dished out like fishcakes.