FORMER BVI PREMIER IN MONEY LAUNDERING CASE ASKS COURT TO COMPEL US TO DISCLOSE NAME OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANT, AND TO DELAY TRIAL

 

Attorneys for the former premier of the British Virgin Islands, ANDREW FAHIE, who is facing what amounts to a possible life sentence in his Miami Federal money laundering and narcotics trafficking case, are asking the trial judge to compel the US Attorney's Office to disclose the name of the Confidential Informant that implicated Fahie in a conspiracy to assist narcotics kingpins. The former BVI leader agreed with the CI to facilitate the transport of narcotics into the British overseas territory, to protect shipments, to allow them to be stored there, and to cover their maritime transport on into the United States.

Apparently, defence counsel has warranted that the identity of the CI will not be publicly disclosed. Although Giglio vs. United States stands for the principle that the Government must disclose any arrangement or understanding that it has with witnesses, there has not been any information made public that such an agreement exists. The identity of the CI may be requested for the purposes of inquiring into his or her background, for possible impeachment at trial, but it could place the safety and life of the CI at risk. the Court will weigh the defense counsel's right to know against other factors, and we shall report on the decision.

Additionally, defence counsel is asking that the January trial date be moved back to later in 2023, due to purported delays in the delivery of transcripts of recordings made of Fahie. A Superseding Indictment added a Racketeering count to the case, which may have been filed to convince the defendant to finally enter into a plea agreement; he has reportedly been in negotiations to cooperate against other senior Caribbean leaders who also allegedly aid and abet the narcotics trade in delivering drugs into North America.