At 10:00am on Friday May 29th 2026 Justice Rajendra Narine entered a packed Supreme Court Annex in Providenciales to deliver the sentence in the long awaited SIPT trial for former Premier Michael Eugene Misick, former Minister McAllister ‘Piper’ Hanchell and Attorney Thomas Chalmers Misick.
After a 2008–2009 Commission of Inquiry exposed systemic abuses, the SIPT was established in 2010 to investigate and prosecute former officials. Charges were first brought in 2011, but legal wrangling and sufficiency hearings delayed the trial’s formal start until December 2015.
Following the COI, in April 2010, investigations were launched by a Special Investigation and Prosecution Team (SIPT) led by Special Prosecutor Helen Garlick. The first charges were brought in September 2011 after a sufficiency hearing in April 2012.
Over the years, the sprawling case splintered into multiple proceedings due to plea agreements, the withdrawal or death of certain defendants and judicial changes.
The most significant disruption came with the passing of Justice Paul Harrison in 2021, which led to Chief Justice Mabel Agyemang splitting the original case into two separate trials.
On February 4th 2026…. The verdicts were delivered by His Lordship Justice Rajendra Narine during a four-hour hearing in a packed, quiet Supreme Court, where the judge presided without a jury.
Now, today, Justice Rajendra Narine has sentenced Former premier Michael Eugene Misick to an effective term of four years and 26 days in prison.
The final sentences were reduced to two years and 16 days on Count One, four years and 26 days on Count Two, and two years and 16 days on Count Three.
The sentences are to run concurrently, meaning Misick’s effective sentence is four years and 26 days.
Former Minister McAllister Hanchell was sentenced to 3 years on each count of bribery, he was jointly charged on 2 counts.
Therefore he will serve 3 years in prison, as the sentences are to run concurrently.
And in the case of Attorney Thomas Chalmers Misick, who was found guilty on 4 money laundering counts will serve the following:
4 years on Count 4
Suspended sentences for counts 5,6 and 7.
Several armed police officers were present in the courtroom as arrangements were made for the convicted men to be taken into custody to begin serving their sentences.
The atmosphere inside the courtroom was emotional, with some supporters visibly upset and others struggling to come to terms with the outcome. Several people were seen crying, while others stood silently at the back of the courtroom appearing stunned by the sentences.
