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Tempers flare on renewed allegations of corruption against AG
BY PAUL HENRY Crime/Court Co-ordinator
henryp@jamaicaobserver.com
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
MORE allegations were yesterday made against Attorney General and Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne that she used her office in a corrupt way in an effort to block or delay the extradition of former Tivoli Gardens don Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, who is also a supporter of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).
But the allegations — a recurring theme of Queen's Counsel Patrick Atkinson's cross-examination — were met with stout objections from the minister's attorney Dr Adolph Edwards, and eventually resulted in an early luncheon adjournment amid flaring tempers.
Throughout the morning it was suggested by Atkinson, who is representing former security minister Dr Peter Phillips, that Lightbourne had acted corruptly and was making excuses — with the argument of a breach of Coke's constitutional rights, among other things. According to Atkinson's suggestion, the minister's true intent was to delay or have the extradition request withdrawn in the interest of Prime Minister Bruce Golding and the JLP.
At each point, however, Edwards objected to the suggestion — saying that there was no substantiating evidence. However, the sitting broke down as it was nearing the luncheon adjournment. Edwards had made the last objection when Atkinson responded, saying that the corruption had to do with the minister not exercising her power in good faith and an abuse of her powers in exercising her authority in a way that had nothing to do with protecting Coke's constitutional rights.
KD Knight, who is representing the People's National Party and who had made similar allegations about Lightbourne in his cross-examination of her the day before, had also responded to the objection and was in the process of saying more when a heated commission chairman Emil George said that he had had enough of Knight.
"My patience is running thin," George said before adjourning the sitting about 15 minutes ahead of the scheduled luncheon break.
But Knight did not mince words in his criticism of George's action.
"This is not your private domain. You are here to listen to arguments. That's why you were appointed," Knight barked, as George walked away.
Following the luncheon adjournment, Atkinson did not cease to make the suggestion of corruption, which drew denials from the minister.
Asked if it was appropriate — having read the allegations of drug and gun trafficking against Coke — for her and the prime minister to put their careers on the line, Lightbourne again said that they both were defending the rule of law. She reiterated an earlier position that if the United States had removed the wiretap evidence from its indictment she would have long signed the authority to proceed with extradition proceedings against Coke.
"I wanted to extradite him," added the minister.
Lightbourne's cross-examination will continue today.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1GlMiuNGK
BY PAUL HENRY Crime/Court Co-ordinator
henryp@jamaicaobserver.com
Wednesday, March 16, 2011MORE allegations were yesterday made against Attorney General and Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne that she used her office in a corrupt way in an effort to block or delay the extradition of former Tivoli Gardens don Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, who is also a supporter of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).
But the allegations — a recurring theme of Queen's Counsel Patrick Atkinson's cross-examination — were met with stout objections from the minister's attorney Dr Adolph Edwards, and eventually resulted in an early luncheon adjournment amid flaring tempers.
Throughout the morning it was suggested by Atkinson, who is representing former security minister Dr Peter Phillips, that Lightbourne had acted corruptly and was making excuses — with the argument of a breach of Coke's constitutional rights, among other things. According to Atkinson's suggestion, the minister's true intent was to delay or have the extradition request withdrawn in the interest of Prime Minister Bruce Golding and the JLP.
At each point, however, Edwards objected to the suggestion — saying that there was no substantiating evidence. However, the sitting broke down as it was nearing the luncheon adjournment. Edwards had made the last objection when Atkinson responded, saying that the corruption had to do with the minister not exercising her power in good faith and an abuse of her powers in exercising her authority in a way that had nothing to do with protecting Coke's constitutional rights.
KD Knight, who is representing the People's National Party and who had made similar allegations about Lightbourne in his cross-examination of her the day before, had also responded to the objection and was in the process of saying more when a heated commission chairman Emil George said that he had had enough of Knight.
"My patience is running thin," George said before adjourning the sitting about 15 minutes ahead of the scheduled luncheon break.
But Knight did not mince words in his criticism of George's action.
"This is not your private domain. You are here to listen to arguments. That's why you were appointed," Knight barked, as George walked away.
Following the luncheon adjournment, Atkinson did not cease to make the suggestion of corruption, which drew denials from the minister.
Asked if it was appropriate — having read the allegations of drug and gun trafficking against Coke — for her and the prime minister to put their careers on the line, Lightbourne again said that they both were defending the rule of law. She reiterated an earlier position that if the United States had removed the wiretap evidence from its indictment she would have long signed the authority to proceed with extradition proceedings against Coke.
"I wanted to extradite him," added the minister.
Lightbourne's cross-examination will continue today.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1GlMiuNGK
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