Rashae Gibson outside court. Photo: Dante Carrer
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Chief Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
A SUPREME Court judge adjourned the trial of Adrian Gibson and others yesterday after a defence attorney expressed surprise that a key witness was called to resume testimony.
Rashae Gibson, cousin of the Long Island MP, was recalled to the witness stand for continued cross-examination after being stood down due to legal issues.
As she approached the stand, defence attorney Geoffrey Farquharson exclaimed, “Milady, call who?“ He added: “Where Ms Gibson coming from? We’re in the middle of cross-examining Mr Deal.”
He then asked if an application had been made to call Ms Gibson.
Senior Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson asked whether he had a point of law to argue, to which he replied in the affirmative. She then excused the jury.
Ms Gibson was initially on trial for bribery and fraud-related charges. However, prosecutors dropped the charges after she agreed to become a cooperating witness.
Ms Gibson, who was a shareholder in Elite Maintenance — a company awarded Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) contracts when Mr Gibson was chairman — previously denied involvement in alleged criminal activities at the WSC.
“The first time I ever learned about Water and Sewerage and the contracts was in the courts,” she testified in May. “I had no clue what Elite Maintenance was doing.”
Mr Gibson is facing several charges concerning his tenure as WSC executive chairman under the Minnis administration. The charges stem from his alleged failure to declare his interest in contracts awarded by the WSC.
The Free National Movement (FNM) politician is charged alongside Elwood Donaldson Jr, former WSC general manager, Joan Knowles, Peaches Farquharson, and Jerome Missick.
Defence attorneys representing the accused include Mr Damian Gomez KC, Mr Murrio Ducille KC, Ian Cargill, Bryan Bastian, Ryan Eve, and Raphael Moxey.
Meanwhile, the Crown’s legal team includes Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier, Cashena Thompson, Karine MacVean, and Rashied Edgecombe.
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