By PAVEL BAILEY
A BANK employee raised financial privacy concerns regarding revealing the personal information of a man on trial for libelling former Water and Sewerage Corporation Executive Chairman Adrian Gibson.
Gabriel Miller appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt on Friday and as a representative of the Royal Bank of Canada discussed bank policy regarding revealing clients’ data during ongoing criminal investigations in relation to his ongoing trial.
Miller is charged with attempted intentional libel and intentional libel after prosecutors alleged he transferred $200 to Mr Gibson’s Royal Bank of Canada account in an attempt to defame him in December 2018. Mr Gibson is also the Long Island MP.
Miller is further accused of causing the publication of defamatory matter concerning Mr Gibson on a Jones Communication Network television programme in June 2019.
Miller, who is represented by Ian Cargill, has denied the allegations.
During Friday’s hearing, while the bank representative said they were willing to help with this investigation, she raised privacy concerns over revealing both the defendant’s and complainant’s personal banking information.
While Mr Cargill objected to the personal banking information of his client being submitted into court, he also raised the point that it would be a breach of the complainant’s privacy as well if both parties’ information were disclosed.
The prosecution conceded this point to Mr Cargill, stating that if one side decided not to reveal their information the other should be allowed to object to the motion as well.
The magistrate requested Mr Cargill submit a written submission of his findings on the matter before Miller’s next trial appearance and advised the financial representative to return to court on that trial date.
The case was adjourned to either February 10 or 18.
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