THE Government has been successful in its multi-million dollar civil asset forfeiture claim in Miami, linked to the construction of the Piarco Airport terminal building 22 years ago.
A Miami jury found businessman Steve Ferguson liable for multiple claims arising from the fraud perpetrated in connection with the redevelopment of the Piarco International Airport in the late 1990s and early 2000s, former attorney general Faris Al-Rawi told Newsday late Wednesday night.
[caption id="attachment_1008359" align="alignnone" width="635"] Businessman Steve Ferguson[/caption]
Al-Rawi was the corporate representative of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in the government’s civil lawsuit. He was restored as TT’s representative after a US appeals court, in February, affirmed the disqualification of Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, and Miami law firm Sequor Law, from representing TT.
Wednesday’s verdict means TT will get triple the damages it sought automatically under the US Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organisations (RICO) law. TT will also get prejudgment interest of at least US$25 million with the final judgment expected to be in excess of US$100 million.
This is the only trial of corruption and bribery charges arising out of the airport project as none of the matters in the local courts have yet moved to trial stage.
Al-Rawi, who has been in Miami since the trial began on March 6, told Newsday the jury deliberated for approximately two hours.
Government began US litigation in 2004 as it sought to recoup US$37 million from those accused of corruption. Before the court were Ferguson, former UNC minister Brian Kuei Tung and US businessman Raul Gutierrez Jr.
They were the only three defendants left in Government’s civil case from the original matter by former attorney general John Jeremie, SC. The case originally involved 23 defendants.
Kuei Tung, a former minister of finance under the Basdeo Panday administration, and Gutierrez, the former principal of Calmaquip Engineering Corporation – which provided specialised equipment at the airport – were previously held liable in the racketeering case.
[caption id="attachment_1008358" align="alignnone" width="500"] Former UNC government minister Brian Kuei Tung. FILE PHOTO[/caption]
Calmaquip was formerly head quartered in Miami.
Al-Rawi said the jury found all three men liable for US$32,385,988 each in damages suffered by TT and granted the RICO claims made by the State.
Miami-Dade Circuit judge Reemberto Diaz presided over the announcement of the verdict which came in at around 6 pm at the Miami-Dade County Courthouse at 73 West Flagler Street in Miami.
When the State filed its fifth amended complaint in April 2007, there was a total of 56 defendants, which included 11 businessmen, 12 corporate entities, and 33 “in rem” (or property) defendants which comprised bank accounts and tangible assets.
The State maintained that Ferguson, Kuei Tung, and Gutierrez co
