Manatt was working for Gov't on Dudus – testimony

Commission began hearing evidence today; adjourned until Thursday

BY PAUL HENRY Crime/Court co-ordinator henryp@jamaicaobserver.com

Monday, January 17, 2011

PERMANENT Secretary in the foreign ministry, Ambassador Evadne Coye today testified at the beginning of the Commission of Enquiry into the saga surrounding the extradition request of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, that a lawyer from United States law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips was a member of the government delegation sent to meet with US officials.

Coye said under cross-examination from QC Frank Phipps that she was working with the Government of Jamaica and that it had nothing to do with the Jamaica Labour Party. She said that to her knowledge the JLP was not involved.

Coye testified that in December 2009, she went to the residence of Jamaican ambassador to Washington, Anthony Johnson, and that attorney Harold Brady was present together with an attorney from Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. She said that she later learned that the attorney was named Kevin Di Gregory.

She said that Deputy Solicitor General Lackston Robinson had told her that the lawyer would be a part of the Jamaican delegation to meet with US State Department and Justice Department officials, which included her, himself and Solicitor General Douglas Leys.

Coye further testified that Robinson told her Leys had included the Manatt lawyer in the delegation because he understood US law and understood the thinking of the Justice Department, being a former employee there.

The ambassador said she objected because there was no approval from Foreign Minister Ken Baugh or Dorothy Lightbourne, justice minister and attorney general. However, she said that when she confronted Leys, he told her that Lightbourne had given permission to expand the delegation.

She also gave evidence that her ministry informed the US in a subsequent meeting of their concerns that were Christopher 'Dudus' Coke to be extradited, then it would cause unrest and security concerns. The ministry also pointed out in a meeting in Washington with State Department and Justice Department representatives what they said were breaches in the US operation in obtaining the wiretap information and that it was a breach of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, said Coye.

However, she said that the US responded that they were not in breach and expressed concerns that Jamaica was treating the extradition differently from previous ones.

Convened at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston, the commission is chaired by Queen's Counsel Emil George, assisted by Anthony Irons, a retired permanent secretary, and Queen's Counsel Donald Scharschmidt. The Government has earmarked approximately $40 million to fund the enquiry. The commission is expected to conclude its hearings on February 28, 2011.

The enquiry has been adjourned until Thursday. Those who have not yet submitted statements have until Friday to do so.