(Trinidad Express) A High Court judge has ruled that businessmen Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson should not be extradited to the United States.
The businessmen, who are also United National Congress financiers, face a plethora of charges arising out of alleged fraudulent activities.
Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh, presiding in the Port of Spain High Court, delivered a 57-page ruling on Monday afternoon saying that any move to have Galbaransingh and Ferguson extradited would be “unjust, oppressive and unlawful.”
Following the ruling, the smiling businessmen exchanged handshakes with their attorneys commending them on a job well done, while attorneys who sought the State’s interest hustled out the courtroom.
In his ruling, Boodoosingh said the lengthy proceedings against the businessmen have generated much public interest and comment.
Noting the Piarco Airport debacle has been a hot topic which caused many citizens to voice their opinions, Boodoosingh said in coming to a decision he looked at all the facts presented and also the law.
“That context includes that this was our airport and our money spent on it. The claimants are citizens of this country accused of defrauding our Government in a conspiracy involving government officials and several other citizens,” Boodoosingh said.
Boodoosingh noted the Constitution mandates the protection of the fundamental rights of citizens, including the businessmen and “from a legal standpoint, we ought not to shirk our responsibility for calling them to account here before local jurors responsible for making the ultimate decision on if they are guilty or not.”
The High Court judge said T&T is the correct forum to try the businessmen and as such, he was quashing the October 9, 2010, decision of Attorney General Anand Ramlogan to sign the order of extradition for both men.
The judge also ruled that the State pay the costs of the businessmen, which sources say could be around $1 million for the retention of the two Queen’s Counsel who led the businessmen’s case.