Lawyer: PNP Trafigura testimonies could invite reprisals

Attorney at law Bert Samuels today argued that if the People’s National Party (PNP) executives in the Trafigura case were forced to testify, in open court that could result in a risk to their personal safety.

Samuels was making his submission today before the Constitutional Court, as the hearing continued into the application by the PNP, which is seeking to challenge a Supreme Court order for several of its members to answer questions relating to the controversial $31 million donation by Trafigura.

He said to make statements in the open court could expose witnesses in general to the likelihood of reprisals, if the statements were against persons involved in criminal proceedings.

Yesterday, attorney at law Deborah Martin contended that her clients are only being asked to respond to questions in relation to the Trafigura probe because of politics.

Martin is representing PNP officials Phillip Paulwell and Colin Campbell.

She also argued that her clients have already made public statement about the Trafigura matter and they should not be called upon to give any further evidence.

Dutch authorities want to question PNP President Portia Simpson Miller, party chairman Robert Pickergill and senior members Paulwell and Campbell about the $31 million donation to the party in 2006.

It is illegal for Dutch companies to donate to political parties.

At the time of the donation in 2006, Trafigura had an oil-lifting contract with the PNP Administration.

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