Attorney Hugh Wildman - file photo
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Attorneys Hugh Wildman and Lloyd McFarlane
Attorney Hugh Wildman has said he is not concerned that information in the public domain pertaining to the corruption case involving the Ministry of Education and the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) will negatively affect the outcome of the matter.
Mr. Wildman, who represents CMU president Professor Fritz Pinnock, explained that if the matter goes to trial, it will be heard by a judge and not a jury which "can be contaminated one way or another."
Additionally, he said only admissible evidence will be considered in the matter.
He was speaking Friday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106.
Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn has criticised the release of what she deemed sensitive information about the corruption probe in the public domain.
Most of the information has come through parliament's Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC).
Professor Pinnock is charged along with former education minister Ruel Reid, Mr. Reid's wife Sharen and their daughter Sharelle.
Kim Brown Lawrence, the councillor of the Brown's Town Division in St. Ann, is also charged in the matter.
In the meantime, Mr. Wildman said he would be in agreement if a Fiat is requested of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for the corruption case to be prosecuted privately.
Robin Sykes, head of the Financial Investigation Division (FID), said he will seek to have discussions with the DPP on the matter of private prosecution.
According to Mr. Wildman, if the matter is tried privately, it could speed up the process.
At least one attorney, who is not involved in the matter, has predicted that the case against the former Education Minister and his co-accused will take up a significant amount of court time and resources based on the volume of material involved.
Lloyd McFarlane has suggested that based on what has taken place so far, there will also be some technical areas of law to ventilate which will require time before the matters are concluded.
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