American businessman Eduardo Hillman, one of the two partners of the firm Birk Hillman, the project manager of the Piarco Airport Project, has been arrested in Miami as the airport corruption investigation continues.
By Richard CharanHillman, of 1231 Castile Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida, had been sought by US authorities on charges arising out of the airport project and is to face an extradition hearing in Miami before being brought to Trinidad.
TV6 News reported last night that Hillman was arrested at the Miami International Airport as he was about to board a flight to Colombia and could be in Trinidad as early as next week if he doesn't challenge the extradition hearing.
It may be the first time an American will be extradited from the US to Trinidad.
Following discussions between Attorney General John Jeremie and the US Justice Department earlier this year, a request was made for the extradition of Hillman and Ronald Birk.
The two Americans were jointly charged with former Finance and Tourism Minister Brian Kuei Tung, former works and transport minister Sadiq Baksh, businessmen Steve Ferguson, Ish Galbaransingh, Amrith Maharaj, Ameer Edoo, Tyrone Gopee, Peter Cateau, Edward Bayley; businessman Renee Pierre, Northern Construction Ltd, Calmaquip Engineering Corporation, Maritime General Insurance Co Ltd and Fidelity Finance and Leasing Co with conspiring between January 1, 1995 and December 31 , 2001 to obtain contracts and payments totalling $1.6 billion during the construction of the new airport.
However, Hillman and Birk could not be found and remained missing until yesterday.
After the arrest warrants and extradition requests had been sent to the United States, Paul Guitirrez, one of the three consultants from Birk Hillman who served on the project, contacted the US authorities and indicated that he was willing to surrender and face charges of fraud arising out of the project.
It is understood that under the terms of Guitirrez's surrender he would have access to bail and would be allowed to leave the country when necessary. Once extradited, neither Hillman nor Birk would be allowed such freedoms.
Jeremie last night hailed the level of exchange and interaction between the US and Trinidad and Tobago at this time as being unprecedented as it needs to be to combat terrorism and corruption.
An extradition warrant is also out for Birk.
