Tomorrow former Minister Joe Coye and his driver Kornel Flowers will be charged for theft. 7NEWS has received multiple reports from senior sources which say that a charge sheet has been prepared. It alleges that Coye with the assistance of Flowers stole $275,000 from Alfred Shackron. Shackron is the businessman who bought the putt-putt property from government in December of 2007. He has signed an affidavit claiming that Coye, as Caribbean Shores Area Representative, called him sometime after June of 2007 telling him that he could get the “Putt-Putt” property for $275,000 plus stamp duties.
But Shackron claims in his affidavit that Coye’s driver Kornel Flowers told him that others were interested in the property and that quote “his boss wanted more money.” Shackron says he gave several additional payments of $50,000 and $75,000 over time – amounting to $575,000.
But Shackron alleges that it ended on December 10th when Flowers called him and directed him to pay stamp duty along with registration and certificate fee for eighteen thousand plus dollars. He claims that was the only money he paid government and got a receipt for and the rest – $575,000 went to Coye. But, he claims that after the election in February, $300,000 was returned to him, leaving the balance at $275,000. And that’s the figure that the charge sheet lists – and tomorrow Coye and Flowers will answer to it.
But unlike the common criminal who would be picked up, placed in bangles and thrown in a cell until he can get a hearing, Coye and Flowers will be shown the courtesy usually afforded to noted members of society who face a charge. Tomorrow morning, they will go into the Eastern Division Police Station with their attorney Godfrey Smith to present themselves for the charges. After that they will go to the Magistrate’s Court to be arraigned. It is expected that no plea will be taken as the matter is indictable due to the 6 figure amount of money he is accused of stealing. The interpretation given to us is that it will not be tried at the Magistrate’s Court, but at the Supreme Court, before a jury.
It is a case of great moment and the significance can barely be overstated. First, the UDP government, elected on an anti-corruption platform has been under public pressure to, quote “bangles them” – them being former Ministers accused of corrupt acts. Also, it is only the second time in recall that a politician will be made to face criminal charges for allegations of corrupt acts while in office. The other was former Social Security Board Chairman, Harry Courtenay who was charged during the term of the last UDP administration; he was acquitted in a criminal trial.
And this brings us to the third point: the prospect of a PUP, or any politician accused of corruption facing a jury at this time cannot be encouraging for that politician. Still, from what we’ve seen, Shackron’s affidavit, while it is compelling, seems to offer little proof of actual wrongdoing and appears to be a case of one man’s word against another’s.
For his part, Coye has maintained that he did absolutely nothing wrong and he has flatly rejected the claim as thoroughly false and the case as trumped up. He has told us that he was not the Minister of Lands and had no commercial involvement in the transaction. He claims that as area representative, he simply recommended Shackron’s project for a craft market – and that happened – he says – three years ago.
Late this evening, the PUP sent out a lukewarm release stating that, quote “Mr. Coye should be afforded all his rights under the law, as should all citizens of our country.” It goes on to say: “the party…will be vigilant to ensure his fair treatment under the law, if any charges are brought against him.” We’ll be following the case as it goes to court tomorrow.
