Basil Waite offered bail on corruption charge

[evanovitch]

Basil Waite, the former senator with the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) Basil Waite has been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Waite, who was slapped with the charge following a ruling by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), was offered bail and is scheduled to return to court on November 10.
It’s alleged that Waite interfered in a case that is currently before the court.
The police report that on April 16 he contacted a businessman who is a witness in a corruption case in which a policeman was charged.
Prosecutors say Waite requested a meeting with the businessman in a bid to assist the policeman.
The businessman later reported the incident to the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Task Force (MOCA)
In court on Wednesday the Defense attorney said his client has denied the allegation.
Basil Waite, a former senator with the ruling party, was also president of the party’s youth arm.
He has been tipped as a possible candidate for the party in the constituency of North East St. Elizabeth for the next general election.

[RichD]

How Waite came to be arrested

Thursday, October 09, 2014 12 Comments

WAITE...released on $1.5-million bail
COURT documents have revealed the details concerning the arrest and charge of the People's National Party's (PNP's) Basil Waite for attempting to pervert the course of justice.
According to the documents, the former PNP senator had sought to assist a police officer who is before the courts for reportedly soliciting a $10,000 bribe from a Kingston businessman.
In the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court, where Waite was yesterday offered bail in the sum of $1.5 million, he denied the charges and was ordered to return to court on November 10.
The documents, however, reveal that, on May 28, 2013, Justice of the Peace Sheldon Beckford, who owns and operates DECS Waste Management Service Ltd in Kingston 10, was stopped by constables Oliver Reid and Clive Russell for breaches of the Road Traffic Act.
The following day, according to the court documents, Russell called Beckford via cellphone offering to give him a chance by not seizing his truck if he gave them $25,000. That same day, Beckford reportedly also received a call from Reid, who allegedly solicited and accepted $10,000 from him.
The businessman reported the matter to the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Task Force (MOCA) and Reid was subsequently charged for breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act and illegal possession of ammunition to appear before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court.
Also according to the court documents, Beckford said he was later contacted by a man who identified himself as Basil Waite. The man, Beckford said, asked that they meet to see what could be done to assist the accused policeman.
Beckford provided the police with the cellular number on which he spoke to the man who reportedly identified himself as Waite.
Court documents said that, on April 16 this year, Beckford said he received a message about a missed call from the same number. Beckford said he returned the call and that the man on the other end again identified himself as Basil Waite. He said Waite mentioned the case that was before the court and asked for them to meet to help the policeman.
Beckford subsequently reported this to MOCA which investigated the allegations. A file was sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which ruled on Monday that charges be laid against Waite.
Waite is a former president of the PNP's youth arm and has been tipped as a possible candidate for the party in the North East St Elizabeth constituency for the next general election. That seat is currently occupied by Raymond Pryce.
The party, meanwhile, said in a brief statement to the media yesterday that, while it acknowledged media reports about Waite's arrest, it would not comment.
"The nature of the allegations are serious, and we understand this. However, we will not offer any interviews or any further comment beyond this release until these investigations and related court proceedings are concluded -- and only if deemed necessary or appropriate," it said.