Steve Ferguson and Ishwar Galbaransingh were yesterday served with warrants of arrest so that extradition proceedings could begin against the two, who are wanted in the United States where they both face a total of 94 counts of conspiracy to defraud, fraud and money laundering charges, arising out of the Piarco Airport development project.
Yesterday, both men, along with former government ministers Brian Kuei Tung and Russell Huggins, along with NCL financial director Amrith Maharaj, Maritime executives John Henry Smith, Barbara Gomes and businesswoman Renee Pierre, were before Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls, where they faced charges of conspiring to defraud the T&T Airports Authority of $19 million.That matter, which was adjourned to today, wound up shortly before 3 p.m.
By 3.30, however, the two men went to the Police Administration Building in Port of Spain, after they heard that extradition warrants were expected to be served on them. Some 82 counts of defrauding the Airport's Authority and allegedly laundering the proceeds were read to Ferguson.
Galbaransingh had 12 counts of conspiracy to defraud and money laundering read to him.
Acting in the interest of the US were attorneys Douglas Mendes SC and David West.
At the time these counts were being read to them by Sgt Williams, of the Anti Corruption Investigation Bureau, both men's attorneys, Gillian Lucky and Divesh Maharaj, were present.
Shortly before 6 p.m., both Galbaransingh and Ferguson were facing Mc Nicolls again, as they made their respective applications for bail, which was eventually granted in the sum of $1 million apiece.
In the end, it was decided that both men would have until 4 p.m. today to produce the required bail documents. This new matter against the two was adjourned to today for mention.
