(Trinidad Express) Attorney General Anand Ramlogan on Saturday ordered that United National Congress (UNC) financiers Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson be extradited to the United States, Florida to face bid rigging and corruption charges related to the $1.6 billion Piarco Airport Development Project.
Ferguson and Galbaransingh’s costly and lengthy battle against their extradition ended on Saturday as Ramlogan, via a press release, stated he was of the opinion that both men would receive a fair trial in the US.
His decision came months after written representations were submitted to the AG at his request on behalf of the two accused. Further representations, Ramlogan said, were solicited from the US Government and Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard on September 29, 2010.
“There has hence been no delay by the AG in arriving at a decision in this matter,” the release said.
The allegations against Ferguson and Galbaransingh, Ramlogan said, are “complex and serious”. The Chief Magistrate, he said, found that there is evidence supporting a prima facie case against them both on the conduct alleged in the American request.
“Both the United States of America and Trinidad and Tobago have carried out extensive investigations into the alleged criminal conduct of Steve Ferguson and Ishwar Galbaransingh.
“The alleged criminal conduct has affected and may have occurred in both the United States of America and Trinidad and Tobago. Whilst all countries have a right to try persons accused of conduct that affects their individual country, there is a discretionary power in the AG to extradite accused persons in certain circumstances in the interest of justice,” the release stated.
Ramlogan said after carefully considering the representations submitted to him in the extradition matter, “the USA is the more appropriate and convenient forum for these charges.
“He (Ramlogan) is convinced that Steve Ferguson and Ishwar Galbaransingh will receive a fair trial in the United States of America and the interest of justice is best served by their extradition to the USA.
“It is important that these serious allegations be tried as soon as possible. In all the circumstances the AG has therefore decided that it is right that they be tried in the United States of America where they will be either acquitted or convicted,” Ramlogan stated.
Both men have claimed that the “extradition proceedings initiated by the United States…are unjust and oppressive because they are already being prosecuted in Trinidad and Tobago in relation to substantially the same matters and they should not be extradited to the United States whilst facing prosecution in Trinidad and Tobago for similar matters.”
