NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Supreme Court Justice Indra Charles last week dismissed a constitutional motion by former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) cabinet minister, Shane Gibson, and sustained the criminal proceedings against him.
Justice Charles also partially lifted Gibson’s gag order and announced his September 23, 2019 trial date on charges that he obtained over $600,000 dollars in bribes from contractor Jonathan Ash, in order to advance payments relative to clean-up efforts following hurricane Matthew.
This announcement came after Justice Charles dismissed the motion to quash Gibson’s voluntary bill of indictment.
According to Justice Charles, Gibson faces “very serious allegations of corruption in public office and should be tried.”
The former labour and national insurance minister was charged on August 3rd, 2017 with two counts of conspiracy to commit extortion, two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery, 15 counts of extortion, 16 counts of bribery, and one count of misconduct in public office.
However, in May 2018, Gibson’s indictment was amended and he now faces just 15 counts of bribery and is accused of receiving $610,000 dollars from Ash.
Justice Charles has set a status hearing for May 7, 2019.
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This story was written by Matthew Moxey – Eyewitness News Online – Intern
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