Attorney challenges public questioning of PNP officials in Trafigura matter
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Attorney KD Knight, who is representing Opposition leader Portia Simpson Miller in the Trafigura matter, this morning told the Court of Appeal that efforts made by Dutch authorities to question People’s National Party (PNP) officials about the $31-million donation is an “exercise in futility” unless an official voluntarily provides a statement.
The attorney, who is currently making submissions before the judge to appeal the Supreme Court’s decision that PNP officials should be questioned in open court, argued that the Supreme Court judge erred in his decision and his interpretation that the proceeding was a hearing.
Knight also argued that question and answers are always done in private outside of the public glare and never in public, and that the court has no jurisdiction to conduct questioning.
According to Knight, no one in Jamaica can be compelled to become a witness, they must do so willingly. He also pointed out that under the Mutual Assistance Criminal Act there are no penalties for not cooperating with a request.
Dutch officials want to question Simpson Miller, PNP Chairman Robert Pickersgill, former Cabinet ministers Phillip Paulwell and Colin Campbell, as well as businessman Norton Hinds in relation to the donation given to the party in 2006 by Dutch firm Trafigura Beheer, which had an oil lifting agreement with Jamaica.
The questioning is part of Dutch authorities’ probe of alleged bribery allegation by the company.
Tanesha Mundle