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t,

My name is Da';id West. ] iive at Baysiile Tou'ers, Cocorite in rhe Isiand of Trinidarj
J

am an Aftorney-at-Law'; I rvas cailed to the Trinlda':l and Tobago Bar

in I996.

The facts srated in m;- lvitness staiemeni are trlis and correct snd are rvithin

in3,

pers*nai knorvledge anCJor rvithin my knorvledge derived frorn rny revisrv of the legal
proceedings and decisions of this Honaurabls Coun. the Court ot Appeai *nd the
Frir1," Ccur"rcil !n respeet cl'anrJ reiated to the

Ferguson anei

cr*adiri*n fiiafter invoiving b{r. Steve

!1;. lsirwar Galbaransingh"

t have worked at thr Centrai Authoritl' Unir {&ereinafier relerred

rc as "the

ffnir"} of

the Office,Ministry of the Anomey Seneral nf Tri:ridad anrJ Tobagc fbr

apFroximately X i ysars. I was first ernpir:3'ecl at tlie I-nit in ! 999 on contractr as Senior
Legai Exeeutive. At ti:at tisie The Attanrey Genersl was fufr, Ran:esh Lavvence
h,{aharqi SC and. the Unit compnised tw$ persons. rnl'seif and a Legel Of{icer

fu{s"

Tristle Khan. Later on" the Llnit cornprised thre* persans, the Heaci of the Linit. the
Senior i"cgal. Exeestive and

.:i

"

tr

egal {}ffic{:r.

My enrployment at the Centrai Aulthoriti' U;:it continued after the gereral elections
irejd in the years

?CIG0

and ?S05, and dunng tne appoint:tlents of suceessi'r'e A*omeys

(ienerai, lbrmer $enatar Kamia Fersad iJissessar and Senators the Ftronourabie

fu{s.

Sienda Nlorean, ivls. Bridgid Annisefie-$eorge eno Mr. -Iolm Jeremie $C. in ?t)04 I
was appcinteri the Head sf the Centrai Authori .v, as position in rvhich

served for

some iive ,vears.

:).

ln lOfld n rosigned
Artor:"rey

a$ the FieaC *:f the C*n;rei

*enersi Senator

a position rvhich

Auth*rity; ar {he rcquest oi th* then

M.c. Anfirsette-tleorge,

re.!*ined rhe Unit as a Consultant,

heid and in consequente at' rvltieh n remaineri, rvorking rvith the

Llnii unrii Augr.rst :0 Lfi.

6.

During the eor;rse of my emplo3'ment al nnd *,;nsulttnel' rvith the l-inii end in respect

of extraditisn proceedings under that Unit's ren:it, I gained a comprehensive insight

into the cperations and practices oi tir* Lnil, I:r tiris period

reseerched the iaw,

,ji

t'

advis*d. dr**ed pr*;*s$ Cl;i:u:nenis ;,n.{ gcn*railn,

,.r1-r1fu*J

*i

r}:;tn t-t*

*tn*.Jrtr*n
tll&ftsrs iincludinp ffi**"'" {;itstt nfptgr*n{est. ,}n i:i}"(}..rtl;r$ lr"*ii
*s rvrth,;.urrnni
a{torne.vs. including under the ieadership *f :lrlk ui:*
hal c*rsiu"ierchle :xp*gene* in
sxtradition matters' I at1 k{orvledgeabie nf *"iis ;rrs of isl,,.
*nei pr}ciic in Trinrciael

.t

,l

}!

t'I
..r

{?

n}L:!rL-

i ant fan:iiiff rvilh the r*ie:lnci fr.:n*;on of ri"rc i.'nir, r;:il lhe praerrce and
pr*e*dures ernpiOl'eei al thr L'nit. rn rsia:ron ir'! e\;rac:!:ron
rl.!i!rt*{$. Fr*sl m-r. tn:d
antl Tobago.

knorvledge ;lnd experience'

*'ril

gener*ll3'' 3s

I sal' lh*t ltrre ;rr**, *i' larv r-nd pracr:ce *f-rs:rlrjiiinn.

*s in ?rinid*d nnd r*b;lgo. is :: spe*iaiiserl *n,.i,;empiex arex.

Fr*m my said kx**lsdge

::ne$

experie,lee I

sa1"

ixrrhe: ils i$ii{:rvs.

'i-1.:*

[:nit is respcnslbie frr h:rnili;xg. iii req${:$1s :cr e:trr::cli:(,in r}ild(l ii.} iln.i :!}
Trinida* *nei'f*}*g*."1h* {.nrt rrnr"ldes ft;li"i{*;lRd asg:ri*ncl. i* lhr
".\ttame3.
*eneral in respeet *f lhe iiischnrg*
nrs
:*sp*n*i*iiiries :rnrjcr :he f;rirlrjitr*n
'Ji
{cornrn*nweal*r nnd Foreign'rerrir*r:esl .let. {-i!:npt*r

ll:*,t of lhe i.arvs or"'liinitJaej

and T*i:ag* theretnu.titr rel&""r*dt*.s ";j;1,..j;.t"\. .{s ".v*ii" i!:s

l._:i:: rcSrrcseR{s

:i:r

Requ*stinx Stal* at ti:e exrr*diti*n i:*;ir:::11pr*r.!C*ii :'cr;* tectle* il,::i":re

".1,ci::n{i_
;tls* reFreseil{s ihs Srate in *n3" i*gal t-rrnc*rding:r e*;:ii*nging iile c.l:rn.iili*,n"
E.

fi i''*rt.'*'Jtr'::t

iiil

il"ilrt

JfcI*'

1.

reque$t ineei$ *re requr:e."ncnrs

*i lxr ",{*1. ihe ..,::*r;lu,r. ,;r:*erai

:ssurs

;* iire ili:iel r{agistrnte ax *rir;r x.n*rrn as rh,e ..A;:rh*n:3 r* ii;.-1gg*;.". i,.:r r}:e
ilhtri lrf*gisliat,c lr-: ir*uctJ ,.,.:-:l :ic ;x:r;dil:;r ::*;r::ii ::: ;i,;t.rij::n;* ..,,.:th
rh,'

tiii;

-I .^t

fh* presiding }lagistrate :n*il ::;ru*s i

t:ri:'rg hirn.J:er befbre lhe {:;,,r* ii..r l.;c

1\'ilij"|j:r t

: .rr:*s: :r:r :;:*

;x:r:iit:,.":: hsa:ll{..

i:rg;ti1.e

,;n,

{iv}

The fugitive mey appi,y for ball pending th* outeorne of the extraditipn
hearing' In the normsl cour$e, given ti:e narure of extradition proceedings &e

Lhit usually

{v"}

objects to the bail application.

At the extraclition hearing" the tinit presents the evidence on behaif qf rhe
Requesting State and, the Unir snd the fugiriv* are given an oppornrnity to
make subniissions on the evidence and the larv.

{vi}

The Magistrate thereaft*r decictes whether to discharge the fugitive or to

c.onrnrit him to ar,vait the w&nanr cf rerurn bv the Anorney General.

{vii}

\&trere a fugirive is cornmitted, }:re may appiy for a w"rit

within ! 5 days of the date of ihe nrder

of

habeas c6rpu$

fcrr his {:srru:}ittai.

{r'iiii rhe fugitive a}so has a righr of appeal to rhe Coum of Appeal f?om rhe
dismissal of lris applicatio* for the rryrit of heabcas corpus, where that occurs.

tix)

Should the C*urt of Appeal disrniss th* appeai, the {-}nit

immediate arrest of the fugitir,e

jf

!rs,rsh* wns grantsd

will

arrange I'or the

bail snd.tha Atlomey

Generai issues lhe warrant for rerur* so rhar rhe extradition can take place.

ix] in the event that the Requesting

$tate is rhe Unirsd Stnres

of Ameriea,

arrangements are rnade at the same time for th* US Marshails to take custody

of the fugitive; in the nsrrnai

course this is aeeonrplished by the Unir rn

coilaborarian rvith tlre US ilepartmenr i:f iusrice"

{xi,i

Aitsr the fact of a successt"ui extradition, the Afiorne3,

Genere.l issues a pre,$s

rei*ase aCvising rhe pubtric of the fact that the extradition of the fi:girive(s; has

.
r0"

oe

curreei.

cf ihe extradition rrrafiers on wldch I worked whiist at lhe {-lnit untii about J"*rly
3010, r'as the extradition maiter invoil'ing h{r" Steve f'erguson rutd I{r" lshllar
One

Oalbaransingh yltereinofrer

re_{erre

d Is, ;ttr

eant'snience,

#$ lhe Jricrerl
"

Extraciition "'\.

:1
t r.

The Piareo Exrradition first atose from a reque$t

States

'n3'

the fiovernrnenr of the Unired

of An:*rica in respect of charges cnf irauct, niei-rigging and money-laundering;

those charges in turn arose sut

of investigations h3" the l-rnited

Stares Oepanmenr

of

lismeianC $eeuritl'. inrx:gr;lli*!1 ;]f;ri fu*{iom$ L,ngbrc*in.-nt rlr-il1. .4.s rh* $rnlr.:r
Legal Ixe*utir"c *i the i-'a;:. r ":r;,,,i::Fr;l:::r* 3ir. j*nes Leryii,_]C. ""f: i]r,r:i:l;rs
h'fenrJes SC.

lfr" ;*hn ..l]n:rijs

iui :;:* :jrnl

*i

{l!:*ries ltussc:l :rr:.j. 3!r" _lelf ,Jlso*

*om the Unitec $:*les {enral A*lh*rir;. r* 5{iiul;i, fli*ritia {* r*\.lsrv

;:he *r.riier:ee

rvhich the investiEation ha,j uneanhsj. F:*m. my r*r"isrv nf rl"lal evidsnce

nnd th*
L'nited States F{*c*rfl *j Cas*. jt o.r';rs ::^r1 ;:ndxrn:ending ll.l::l *:e t i.6vern:-ne rr rrJ- iir*

t:nileej $tater :r.ts :liieglng thet

\{:.

i.*:guscr:.

l!r.

fi;lhar;:xs:::gh rr:C *lherr

pamicipateel in a frrudulen{ scnerne. rn:hs i-.nltrd $lntes;uei,;isso.rildr*.

1., rir;lni,x}alcr

the bi<i prsce$s frrr the f**st&:eti*n c: the Piale* Intern;rtisrnnl

"trmein in innldau,
The Frsc*eds r:N lhis erin:rc rvere aileld:e*iv 1;11r*riured :hr*uch bar* aee*unrs in lhq:

Sovernfflent

ialll'

hy l*1r }:ergr:s*n and b{r. tialbaransingh. The

r:f Trinielad snd i*l.;i$i: .* ihe lir:s rva-E fr:rEnerj li*nr th* eie*i$d

sahanras tren*{ie

n'lernbers bel+rlg:ng

sn,:::ed

ts ti'Is pliiitieai pii*,,. ii:!: --:::;cJ s;li!{in;xi (r"r:gt-**s,luri":noltii:r

"Ll\{-":. rhe r*l\f i* lhe pcli:l;;:u::anr':r',r'L:*i: iir.s .ll:im,uri:.elp;1g5":r. i\,hr

rnai:r pa*f in li:* {tt:T**l c*alitran i]*r'rni;n*nt
c,.nplnsl *i' rvhi*i: th*:
"lnd r; :iie
#le

Llaimant is thc .{ltunler *.leneit..

At the time the Pierce [r.rr":Ji::u.;t:i:':,:;:'"::c.:l*,i.:ir'r::*.. .:*rrsi..1j

-lnh* "lercnie 5"c, rssui:d

ilf

_,:

r*c r::rr*" ""rl:.

."lathi'r':. :", ilrc.:*-.i lo, ih* li;*1".r,;agisirsirr i:;,.,i

.ffirtSdn

i.1.

Fei*r* tir* fiere* [xtr*dili**::earin6 s:i.ac- ;::rs:,;,lsijriit"r:r' {',.,:]*. }lr. Fe:gr.r*:li

ar:d 5!r" t"]aibarmsingii f;i*d a:: srri:e;ii*n l,rr
"e*...e :* r.:n:!::en;r .,;,:li{ic: ir*,..:r_,\r"
pr*e*eCings ngtinsi lr"l i,Jci.;;c::,11 t),:;\tii':-irl..tJ*ncr::i ti..,-iu,_:-:.;
"\-;ii:,,r:..,, ir_i
Fr**eecl; the c;*c $.'as :sJ(.r::Jj :n* ::;::":r-r

ir. ji:-..*-Jp:! :l:,j

..r",*

ll* iir,; .; ;i

seies ot iegal ehsiirng;*: liiur:*i:ed 'n3 Xr.

tir*ir exgradirion r* :h* L.n:teC Srsles.

1.*rgus.;rn

x;ld

Iir.

fialb;:rs*slngh r* rr.*irj

'Ihe said *ppiicati*n for leaye

fur ;udiciai reuiew w*s heari hef$* !{r. justics

t':
']

ftcreaux {as he then r',,as;. 5lr" F*rgus$n rlss reFrrsentcd

b_r,,

}tr,

.L. frtzgeraid eC.

sillian I**ck;-. )*lr )evssh llaharat and 5!s. t"i $ingh. l!r. {ialbaransingh
represented bl' hlr' i'leir Starrner QC an* ltrr. lt4iv F*rsad.
fhe .{gl$rne]* cenerti
51s'

was
an-j

*:e ehief llagislrat* \\'ere represeriteC b3 5{r. Jsn*s l-crt.is i}C, Ilr. Msndes
S{, !lr.
Quarnina and mysei{: The l-l*nourabi* -}rldge re$;.isetl leave.
rrlle e*py

cf dre
".D,iv.I.,' I

"4,

wrirren juigmenr

af the Honourabie judge rs rttach*d anir marr"ed

respectfull3 ;rsk :iris Henr:urabis f*urr io n*ie the statemenrs eif thr
Honsurable
J*dg* ri parlrErirpi: er? ol r"ris;u<ignreRi. rsnr rs r,; .ta3" l}lnr t[r. f*;gu.s6n and
Mr"
{i$lbarar}si31gi'; h:ii nu rigili i* r*maln;r'l'riru*.r,i *rJ
l',:bag* rn r!:e lbce *r ff?
c"'ttr*'Jirion requrs{ ir*m n lrirnci!; Srat*" :i.rr r:llenees *onrnrilc*d wilhin
its ten;t*r}
$r' to be exclusir'*l-r- trred lri l'nnidad:nrl 1*bagu ra re$p{i pt thr
J&{:re

*ffbnEes arising ou{ eil th* s*rn* s"ub3**t r:;}ucr

lir

dr:lrnrilar

u.r:ieh t}rer *'ere eherged

i11

rhe

{-lniled Srut,:s
t5.

\lr"

I;ergusrln ltlld

Ilr.

*aibar*nslngi: epp*;:ied rh;s iiecisi*n. lhe Cauc.r of Appe*l

iJustic*s ,-ri' App*ni \\'arner, .*,rcnie f-j :r*d 5len*r:rrcri di-sffiisre,l rherr appeai. cln
appeai &e iegal rpressnmtion fur lhe pan:es rver* cssentially &e saffs
rxsept thal

!n:. Ffnlip;ke,ioi:l*d rhe legai rrs.ffi {br }tr. Ferguson end" blr. Rxjiv persad appeared
ai*ne irlilh*ui 5h. Srerlxcr QCi l'*r .'"!r uelbar**srixgn. A irxs cop3, *i rhe rvrinen
deqisiix: *i' :i:* e aufi of Appeal rs e**ch*i anii :::*rks;i ".n".fv,;,"'.
this Fi*nou:gble L*un :o ncie :ite s;e:en:*i:r

*f

r*specriuily, .rsk

.lusrr** r.lf Appeai \\"arner. at page

f4

iier jucg:rent' rhat tf $e :na*er prsgrqsses is rhe return $tsge, rhe tl.et*rs
rdsnrified
in irhe ieading *ase ci{ Cotroni rviii be :?}a$ers ii:r lh* flxeru(n'e tc co:ls:,Jer.
erf

:$,

5lr, Felgus*n ;lnij "\nr. $cibarans.r;rgi: trhc:: n*x: ;prll*d iirr ;*ate r*
"rpperi t* rhe
Prirf ih*r:cii: lheir appiicalirr* rvas cirs:ll:is*i -'*fr li:xg*r;liC i]{ appe;ir*d l-:.r bi:t}r

lk.

i*rgus*::

fie**ra!

anr,J

1lr. Salbaransingh.

.r.1r. Ler,.;$

inskue tcd b'" L{r. Joh.n Armeids ,rr'she :'irn:

r]{

*ppcx*;j

;: chrrics

:.,_:.r

&*sscli.

li:*

Arrornev