KINGSTON, Jamaica – The defence in the multimillion dollar fraud trial involving former Education Minister Ruel Reid and his co-accused has asked for the charges against them to be dropped, citing a breach of statute.

Reid, his wife Sharen and daughter Sharelle, former Jamaica Labour Party councillor Kim Brown Lawrence and former Caribbean Maritime University President Fritz Pinnock face charges including breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act, conspiracy to defraud and breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act.

READ: Ruel Reid, co-accused fraud trial now ready to go

During Tuesday’s first official day of trial, prosecutors had just stood up to ask for an order of indictment when the granting of such was opposed by Pinnock’s attorney, Hugh Wildman.

Wildman told presiding Judge Sanchia Burrell that evidence grounding the prosecution’s case was obtained in breach of the Financial Investigations Division Act (FIDA).

He maintained that the evidence was inadmissible based on statute and asked the court not to grant the order of indictment unless the prosecution could prove that they had other evidence.

The other defence attorneys concurred with Wildman.

The court has paused for lunch, and the prosecution has not yet responded.
– Dana Malcolm