Decision tomorrow on Ish, Steve’s bid for bail

Fraud accused businessmen Steve Ferguson and Ishwar Galbaransingh, who are wanted in the United States on a total of 95 fraud charges, are expected to know tomorrow whether an application for bail would be granted by the Court of Appeal. Late last Friday, the panel, comprising Chief Justice Ivor Archie, Paula Mae Weekes and Alice Yorke-Soo Hon, served notice of tomorrow’s judgment. The application before the appellate panel follows a decision by High Court judge Andre Mon Desir on December 22, 2010 to deny them bail. Mon Desir had ruled there was no circumstances causing a significant enough change for an application for bail to be considered.

On January 17, however, British Queen’s Counsel Andrew Mitchell had contended that the referral of the case for judicial review before a High Court judge was sufficient change to entertain a bail application.
Mitchell, who represented Galbaransingh, also argued that primacy of the constitution and the applicant’s right to liberty were ensured by the granting of bail. Fyard Hosein, SC, Sasha Bridgemohansingh and Rishi Dass  made submissions on behalf of Ferguson. Nyree Alfonso instructs Mitchell and Hosein for the prisoners.

Ferguson, former Maritime General CEO, and Galbaransingh, chairman of Northern Construction Ltd Group of Companies, are wanted in the US to answer 95 fraud charges arising from the $1.6 billion Piarco Airport terminal project. Avory Sinanan, SC, leads Kelvin Ramkissoon, Sunita Harrikissoon and Karel Douglas for the state.