Decision soon on Tasker’s extradition

By the end of August, the court could rule on whether Alex Theodore Tasker, former senior manager at the Insurance Corporation of Barbados Ltd. (ICBL), should be extradited to the United States to stand trial on money laundering charges.

This was the word on Thursday from Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes when the matter continued in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court.

Prosecutors are alleging that between August 2015 and April 2016, Tasker conspired with others to launder money in the US from outside the country, in violation of US law.

Defence counsel Queen’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim apologized to the court for submitting his written submissions late.

He asked the court to allow that on the next available date, both he and the prosecution be allowed to respond to each other’s submissions either orally or written, at which time the court could adjourn pending a decision.

However, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale who is representing the Crown along with Senior Crown Counsel Oliver Thomas, vented his frustration at the length of time it was taking to complete the case.

Seale said he thought both sides’ written submissions “would have signaled the end”. He said any further arguments would just be a case of “canvassing issues over again”.

In fact, the deputy DPP said he was hoping that a decision might have been handed down Thursday.

“I am hoping to get past this matter which started last year. I would like to see the back of this one way or the next, because I believe this is just part of a long journey in this matter. This is merely the beginning,” Seale said.

In response, Pilgrim told the Chief Magistrate he would prefer to have an opportunity to make a final submission.

After listening to both sides, the Chief Magistrate said he would adjourn the matter until August 31.

He said he would allow Pilgrim to make his submission and afterward there was the possibility he would be in a position to make a decision on that date.