The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune News Editor

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

A SENIOR customs officer testified yesterday that senior officers requested he provide details about imported shipments for Adrian Gibson and Baha Maintenance and Elite Maintenance.

Harold Fountain, who heads the agency’s enforcement unit, testified during the bribery and fraud trial of Mr Gibson and five others.

Mr Fountain said he received the directives in May 2022 from then Assistant Police Commissioner Leamond Deleveaux.

After receiving the request, he said he directed junior staff to check the department’s IT system and forward the information to him. Mr Fountain testified that he gave that information to the police.

Custom documents shown in court revealed that several vehicles, including a 2011 Chevy Orlando and 2010 Kia Sorento, were imported for Mr Gibson.

The documents further revealed that vehicles were also imported for Baha Maintenance and Elite Maintenance.

Prosecutor Rashied Edgecombe said the documents referred to money laundering charges against Mr Gibson and his co-accused.

During cross-examination, Mr Gibson’s attorney, Murrio Ducille, KC, asked the witness if he saw any irregularities on the Customs documents that he obtained from the system.

“Depends on what you call irregularities,” Mr Fountain said, later adding he didn’t know the answer.

Damian Gomez, KC, asked Mr Fountain about the department’s procedures when dealing with imports, which the witness outlined to the court.

The attorney also asked if he was present when the items were cleared or removed from the department.

Mr Fountain said he was not there and told the court the first time he heard about Baha Maintenance and Elite Maintenance was when the police made their request.

Gibson, the sitting MP for Long Island, is facing bribery charges concerning his tenure as WSC executive chairman under the Minnis administration.

The charges stem from Mr Gibson’s alleged failure to declare his interest in contracts awarded by the WSC.

The FNM politician is charged with former WSC general manager Elwood Donaldson, Jr, Rashae Gibson, his cousin Joan Knowles, Peaches Farquharson and Jerome Missick.

They have denied the allegations.

Mr Gomez, KC, Mr Ducille, KC, Bryan Bastian, Ryan Eve, Mr Raphael Moxey, Christina Galanos, Ian Cargill and Donald Saunders represent the defendants.

Meanwhile, acting Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier, Cashena Thompson, Karine MacVean and Mr Edgecombe are the Crown’s prosecutors.