FIRSTCARIBBEAN Bank has filed its defence in the $30- million lawsuit brought against it by former People's National Party (PNP) minister Collin Campbell in which it distanced itself from its ex-senior executive Sonia Christie, who allegedly leaked banking information regarding transactions between the oil trader Trafigura Beheer BV and an account to which Campbell was a signatory.

In papers filed in the Supreme Court on May 15, First Caribbean said that it should not be held liable for the leaking of the sensitive banking information to the then Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in 2006, as Christie was not acting under its direction when she allegedly obtained the information from the First Global Bank, which was eventually leaked. FirstCaribbean is also claiming that it was not aware that the information was obtained and leaked until it became public knowledge.

In the event that the court finds that FirstCaribbean is liable for damages to Campbell, stemming from the leak which resulted in his resigning from the PNP Cabinet, and alleged loss to his communications business, the bank will be asking that the court order that Christie indemnify it.

Campbell in April filed suit against the bank and Christie for breach of confidentiality and is seeking $30 million in damages, a million dollars shy of the $31 million the PNP had to return to the Dutch company, which at the time lifted and sold Nigerian crude for Jamaica, due to mounting public pressure.

Campbell is seeking a declaration from the Supreme Court that the defendants wrongfully and "without any lawful obligation, duty or proper authority" disclosed confidential information relating to his account in the name of CCOC Association to unauthorised third parties.

Campbell is also seeking a declaration that the defendants "wrongfully and without any lawful obligation, duty or proper authority and in bad faith and/or in abuse of their duty of trust and confidence as bankers, obtained confidential information" regarding his relationship to an account held by the First Global Bank in the name of SW Services (Team Jamaica).

The Trafigura scandal came to the fore in early October 2006 when then Opposition Leader Bruce Golding revealed that the PNP had received $31 million from Trafigura. Christie was sent on leave by the bank in the wake of the scandal.

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