Prime Minister Gaston Browne has addressed the ongoing bribery allegations involving UK businessman Peter Virdee and Member of Parliament Asot Michael, emphasizing the potential consequences and expectations for action from the Antiguan authorities.
Speaking on the matter, Browne highlighted the gravity of the situation, especially if Peter Virdee is convicted.
“So the point I’m making here is that If Peter gets convicted, there will be an expectation that the Antiguan authorities will take action because this so-called (innocence) that Asot talking about does not exist,” Browne stated.
Browne elaborated that the presumption of innocence for Asot Michael hinges on the outcome of Virdee’s case.
“Unless the only way he becomes guiltless is if Virdee escapes. If Virdee gets convicted, automatically the bribee is under more than scrutiny, the bribee is in trouble.
Listen to the PM’S statement from Pointe FM here:
“And there would be an expectation now that based on the request from the Brits, the DPP and others within the system will now have to look at this file and to make a determination on how to deal with that file,” Browne explained.
The Prime Minister underscored that Asot Michael is far from being out of the woods, indicating that the matter is far from settled.
“I knew that the matter was not settled, and I didn’t want my government to get caught up in this,” Browne said, reflecting on the complexities and potential repercussions for all parties involved.
Peter Virdee, 50, also known as Hardip Singh, was wanted by the National Crime Agency (NCA) as part of a multi-million-pound bribery case.
He appeared at Westminster magistrates’ court on Thursday where he was charged with bribing a foreign public official.
It is alleged that between January 2015 and July 2017, he bribed Asot Michael, the former minister for tourism, economic development investment and energy for Antigua and Barbuda.
Michael maintains his innocence.
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Hmmm
Wild Wild West
Gaston, be careful what you wish for, because hopefully, everyone’s dirty laundry – including yours – will be exposed over time.
If people like Asot Michael goes down, he’ll take others to the “cleaners” as well.
This could be a wonderful development.
Popcorn 🍿and bullfoot soup 🥣 at the ready
Gaston Browne, are you interfering with the Judiciary? The retired Judge of the Court of Appeals. She did say that Politicians have tried to interfere with the Court.
How come the local authorities never act when the PM said he transferred voters to help win the election. Does the PM control the police force ?
Let justice takes its Course we are getting there just a matter of time remember that oderbretch investigation not completed as yet Casroy James your former ambassador remember he was taken in to custody by the US he is restricted from traveling out side the territory WHO are they waiting on
Was the US $ M12 a bribe? Remember that we never knew about it until Mr. Walker pulled your file in Parliament. Why were you not detained by the local police and where is that money now?
@SMH: The Police could not and cannot do one damn thing without Gaston’s say so. He did say, that his signature was forge on documents. What the hell did the Police do in that matter. Was the forger a Gastonite?
What or who is preventing the Antiguan Authorities from opening the IHI investigations of the $170 million misappropriated from the national treasury? The answer can be found on pg 17 of the book Corruption & Lunacy written by Nuffield Burnette and I quote ” Kindly note, that it’s not beyond me, to get law enforcement to reopen the IHI CASE and to remove the the Dpp who you CORRUPTLY paid to protect you in the case”. Whatsoever this means is pellucid, and bring in question the ability of the Antiguan Authorities to act independently of the political directorate
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