Former Petrojam officials freed; attorneys say case was politically motivated

By Racquel Porter    

 

The legal team representing former Petrojam general manager Floyd Grindley and the company's former board chairman Dr. Percival Singh, says the prosecution of the men was politically motivated.

 

Senior Parish Court Judge Maxine Ellis on Tuesday acquitted Dr. Singh and Mr. Grindley of fraud, when they appeared in the Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Court.

 

Dr. Singh was accused of fraudulently submitting claims amounting to US$73,000 for overseas travels he allegedly did not make.

 

Mr. Grindley was accused of aiding and abetting Dr. Singh to process the claims.

 

Speaking with reporters following the verdict, attorney Bert Samuels, who described the case as a political crucifixion, said it all started in Parliament. 

 

"If you look at the Hansard report in Parliament, this matter came up because of political tussle and as K.D. Knight said, he's firstly a lawyer and secondly a politician. It came from a side of the House that Mr. Knight belongs to, but he felt that victory and the pursuit of justice was important," said Mr. Samuels. 

 

He argued that the charges brought against Dr. Singh were disgraceful.

 

"Dr. Singh was asked to refund every travel ticket that he made to attend board meetings where he sat and presided over board meetings. He was asked the return the money spent on a surprise birthday party for him. It was a surprise for him! This is scandalous! It's an extortion of a Jamaican citizen to pay for your own surprise birthday party. This is crazy. This is how crazy politics is in Jamaica," the attorney lamented. 

 

Mr. Samuels, while noting that the high profile case which drew national attention was his last in his 45 years at the legal bar, said Tuesday's victory is tremendous, as it comes on the 100th anniversary of the birth of former Prime Minister Michael Manley.

 

He said he became an attorney as a result of free education, which was one of Mr. Manley's policies.

 

Meanwhile, attorney K.D. Knight, who represented Mr. Grindley, credited Parish Court Judge Maxine Ellis for the time she spent analysing the evidence presented. 

 

"She delved very carefully with the evidence in favour and the evidence against. And then she resolved it, finally, in favour of the accused by saying that, on her analysis, the prosecution failed to prove that they committed the offences for which they were charged."    

 

Mr. Knight said despite the publicity of the case which occupied the media, the judge was careful and professional in carrying out her duties.

 

Judge Ellis had previously rejected the defence's no case submission.

 

Mr. Knight said the case was one of his hardest during his career, adding that he was not surprised by Tuesday's verdict which has left his client as "happy as a lark".

 

Matthew Hyatt and Bianca Samuels were also a part of the legal team.

 

The trial began in the Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Court in May 2022.