Former Government minister and Independent Liberal Party (ILP) leader Jack Warner was forced to spend a night at the Remand Yard facility of the Port-of-Spain State Prison yesterday, after he failed to access bail on 12 bribery and corruption charges arising out of his over two-decade long career in Fifa.
He was granted $2.5 million bail when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court earlier yesterday but the former Fifa vice-president did not get approval of his bail documents from a clerk of the peace before the court closed for business around 4 pm.
As he and his lawyers strolled out of the St Vincent Street courthouse with dejected looks on their faces yesterday evening, an unrestrained and seemingly unfazed Warner was led out of the prisoners’ entrance by two burly police officers. Before he was placed in the backseat of a marked police SUV, Warner briefly waved to dozens of his supporters who had gathered outside the court for several hours to catch a glimpse of him.
His greeting, unusual for prisoners who are handcuffed while being transported from court to prison, drew the immediate reaction of the crowd, who responded with loud cheers and supportive chants. “Uncle Jack, we love you. Don’t let them extradite you,” one woman shouted as she charged towards a group of heavily armed police who were attempting to clear the roadway for Warner’s transfer to prison.
His lawyers are expected to make a second attempt for approval early this morning. Warner, 72, of Cynthia Drive, Five Rivers, Arouca, is accused of 12 charges related to fraud, racketeering and for engaging in illegal wire transfers. The offences are alleged to have taken place in the United States, T&T and other jurisdictions between 1990 and when Warner quit Fifa in June 2011.
Because Warner’s extradition proceedings were initiated by way of a provisional arrest warrant issued by the Office of the Attorney General on the request of the US authorities yesterday, specific details of the charges and the sums of money involved were not revealed in court. US authorities now have 60 days to provide the Central Authority of the AG’s office with a more comprehensive dossier of their case against Warner, including key pieces of evidence.
Once the documents arrive in T&T, they will be laid in court to clear the way for the official start of Warner’s extradition proceedings before Ayers-Caesar. Warner surrendered to police at the Fraud Squad’s office, corner of Richmond and Park Streets, Port-of-Spain around 2 pm yesterday, hours after US Attorney General Loretta Lynch held a press conference in Washington, DC, to reveal the investigation which led to Warner and over a dozen of his former FIFA colleagues being indicted on a total of 47 corruption charges.
Voluntary surrender
Warner and his legal team held brief discussions with Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Carlton Alleyne before he was processed and transported in an unmarked police vehicle to the courthouse. Within minutes of arriving, Warner was ushered to the courtroom to appear before Ayers-Caesar.
Dressed in a simple black suit, he sat slouched in the prisoner enclosure as the charges were being read. He was not called upon to plead to the charges which were laid indictably. In applying for bail for Warner, his lawyer Fyard Hosein, SC, stated his client was of good character and did not pose a flight risk.
“The defendant, on hearing reports in the media this morning, voluntarily surrendered to police rather than waiting to be arrested. This shows a character of co-operation from an outstanding citizen who has served his country for many years,” Hosein said. Senior Counsel Pamela Elder, who is leading the legal team representing the Central Authority and the US authorities, did not oppose Hosein’s request but pleaded with Ayers-Caesar to impose strict conditions on his bail.
Ayers-Caesar agreed as she ordered he surrender his passport and report to the Arouca Police Station every Monday and Thursday for the duration of his extradition proceedings. Warner is also being represented by Keith Scotland, Rishi Dass and Nyree Alfonso. Jagdeo Singh, Gerald Ramdeen, Alvin Pariagsingh and head of the Central Authority Netram Kowlessar are appearing alongside Elder.
Warner will reappear in court on July 9.