The Special Investigations and Prosecution Team (SIPT) has charged attorney Norman Saunders again, after a basic legal blunder forced them to drop money laundering charges against him two weeks ago.
The new charges were announced on Friday September 20th, by SIPT through Neil Smith, spokesman for the Governor.
It appears from the press release that Saunders, 44, was charged since Thursday, but that the SIPT carefully timed the release of the information.
A note at the top of the press release to Neil Smith with specific instructions stated: “Norman Saunders was charged this morning (Thursday) and will appear before the Magistrates Court at Provo tomorrow (Friday). Can you please issue a Press Release, when I give you the green light tomorrow.”
The actual press release stated: “Norman Saunders appeared at the Magistrates Court in Providenciales today charged with the following offences;
1.Assisting Another To Retain the Benefit of Criminal Conduct, in that between 1st August 2005 and 3rd October 2007 he entered into an arrangement whereby Mc Allister Hanchell’s proceeds of criminal conduct were used to secure funds that were placed at the said Mc Allister Hanchell’s disposal, knowing that he was a person who is or had been engaged in criminal conduct.
2.Entering into or becoming concerned in an arrangement to facilitate the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property , in that between 3rd October 2007 and 31st December 2010 he entered into or became concerned in an arrangement which he knew or suspected facilitated the acquisition, retention, use or control or criminal property by or on behalf of Mc Allister Hanchell.
3.Acquiring, using or possessing criminal property, in that between 3rd October 2007 and 31st December 2010 he acquired criminal property, namely monies transferred to him for the benefit of Mc Allister Hanchell.
He was remanded on bail to appear before the Supreme Court for a Sufficiency Hearing on 8th November .”
Chief Justice Edwin Goldsbrough had ruled that Special Prosecutor Helen Garlick did not have constitutional powers to charge anyone and that those powers would have to be delegated by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
This, apparently, has now been done.
Source-TCI Sun
