Tuesday, December 8 2009

ATTORNEY GENERAL John Jeremie last Monday recovered another $30 million in compensation in the Piarco Airport fraud investigation from a court order issued after a settlement with Portguese firm, Grupo Soares, and its Florida subsidiary, Soares Da Costa Contractor Inc, of Puerto Rico in a fraud civil lawsuit filed by Jeremie in Florida.

“This brings the total sums recovered, frozen or under Government control thus far from the Piarco Airport Development Project to in excess of a quarter-billion dollars ($250 million),” said a statement from the AG’s Office.

“This matter is a continuation of the Attorney General’s quest to recover sums defrauded from the Trinidad and Tobago Government by firms and individuals involved in the Piarco Airport Development Project.

“This settlement follows previous awards arising from the prosecution of the Piarco Airport corruption case in the American courts.”

In January 2007, Justice Paul C Huck awarded Trinidad and Tobago $38.62 million in restitution by persons pleading guilty in the Southern District Court, Florida.

This comprised $12.66 million paid by Eduardo Hillman-Waller, $25.32 million from Raul Guitierrez, and $633,320 from Leonardo Mora-Rodriguez. “Those convicted at that time also submitted letters of apology to the Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago.”