From Caribbean News Now

PROVIDENCIALES, TCI — The corruption trial of the 2003-2009 Progressive National Party (PNP)-led government has begun in Providenciales, the most heavily populated and developed of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI).

The trial, originally expected to have begun in 2012, was delayed when former premier Michael Misick fled the territory before charges were brought.

Misick was first believed to be residing in the Dominican Republic but was later located in Brazil. An international arrest warrant was issued for his return to the TCI. Misick fought the extradition for over a year but the Brazilian courts approved his extradition. He arrived in Grand Turk on a US government aircraft in January 2014, when he was immediately taken into custody until later released on $10 million bail.

The extradition itself is now being brought into question in court by Misick’s attorney Ralph Thorne QC. Thorne has presented an argument to the court that Misick was extradited on a single charge but is now before the court on numerous charges. Therefore, Thorne argued, the extradition was improper.

There appears to be some precedent for the reverse argument. If a defendant is extradited for numerous alleged offences and later these charges are reduced a case could be made for an improper extradition.

It is unclear if Misick’s attorney is arguing for the former premier to be returned to Brazil and if he would be welcomed there. But a new fact was revealed, namely, Brazil required that, if Misick is convicted, he would not serve more than 20 years imprisonment.

Prosecutor Andrew Mitchell QC argued that the Commission of Inquiry brought up evidence of an overall plan of corruption and during the extradition proceedings, which took a year, the various elements of the corruption bought other charges.

Misick’s brother, Thomas Chalmers Misick; former deputy premier Floyd Hall; Hall’s wife Lisa; Hall’s brother Quentin; former ministers McAlister Hanchell, Jeffrey Hall, as well as Lillian Boyce and her brother Earlson Robinson, and Jeffrey Hall’s former attorney Melbourne Wilson are also charged.

The court seating arrangements initially had all the defendants sitting together as a group. An early decision in the case was an application to allow the defendants to sit next to their attorneys. This was not disputed.

All defendants have pleaded not guilty.

IMAGES: (L-R) Former ministers Floyd Hall; Lillian Boyce; Jeffrey Hall and McAlister Hanchell
Former premier Michael Misick

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