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

AFTER a forced delay on Monday because of the absence of Senior Parish Judge Vaughn Facey, the trial of former Education Minister Ruel Reid, former Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) President Fritz Pinnock, and their three co-accused will return to court today as their multimillion-dollar fraud trial gets underway.

With a stand-in judge presiding, Monday was not wasted as administrative matters were addressed to allow the trial to begin smoothly today.

Opening statements are slated to be heard when the trial begins, with prosecutors indicating one witness could be called, time permitting.

During Monday’s proceedings prosecutors and Pinnock’s attorney, Hugh Wildman, clashed regarding a request from the Crown to keep the names of the witnesses out of the media.

The Crown has said that nearly 100 witnesses are expected to be called during the trial.

Prosecutors indicated that the request was made in the interest of the witnesses’ safety. However, Wildman objected immediately, citing what he described as a violation of the country’s constitution.

“This is an unacceptable request. It is not a Gun Court case,” argued Wildman.

“This is an open case where any member of the public can come in and listen to the witness… we submit that no such order should be made,” added Wildman.

In response, the substitute judge expressed caution, arguing that the granting of such a request could unintentionally colour the case.

He requested that prosecutors return on Tuesday with relevant case material to prove the authority to support the request.

Present in the packed courtroom were all of the defendants — Reid, his wife Sharen, his daughter Sharelle, Pinnock, and Councillor Kim Brown Lawrence (Jamaica Labour Party, Brown’s Town Division) — and their attorneys.

On leaving the courthouse Reid shied away from journalists’ cameras, pulling his jacket over his head in an attempt to avoid being photographed.

His only comments were to repeat his former party’s chant of

“third term”, used during the JLP’s historic win of a third-consecutive term in office, and even calling out “fourth term” as he scurried away from reporters.

The matter moved to the media front burner almost six years to the day (October 9, 2019) when the houses of the accused were raided by police and they were charged days later.

Allegations are that more than $50 million in Government funds was diverted from a programme at Caribbean Maritime University while Reid was minister of education and Pinnock was CMU president.

They are charged with breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act, conspiracy to defraud, misconduct in a public office at common law, and breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The accused had sought judicial review of their charges, and in July 2023 a Full Court panel ruled that they had a case to answer and should go to trial.