On April 25th former PUP Minister of Health and two term Caribbean Shores Area Representative Jose Coye was charged in Magistrate’s Court for theft. Businessman Alfred Shackron told police that in December he paid Coye, through his driver Cornel Flowers, $575,000 for the “Putt Putt” property. Shackron swore in an affidavit that Coye returned $300,000 and provided a government receipt for $18,000 and so he went to police. It was an explosive allegation against a high profile figure but now the case is falling apart. 7NEWS has confirmed that Alfred Shackron has told the DPP that he doesn’t want any court action. Joe Coye also knows that information and which maybe why he had a spring in his step at the Magistrate’s Court this morning.
Keith Swift Reporting,
This morning a calm and confident Jose Coye smiled and waved for the camera as he strode into Magistrate’s Court – expecting vindication from charges that he stole $275,000 from businessman Alfred Shackron - charges which Coye says are completely false.
Jose Coye, Charged for Theft
“I am innocent of those charges. I made that quite clear then. I considered them to be preposterous, I consider them to have been outrageous but I did say then too that I have my confidence and trust in the justice system. I really had hoped today that when my come for the preliminary inquiry, that today I would have been exonerated of those charges because I am not guilty of them.”
Keith Swift,
So you are saying that Mr. Shackron made a false report?
Jose Coye,
“Yes I am saying that what I am being accused of is totally untrue.”
Keith Swift,
But he said he gave you this money, you are saying he lied?
Jose Coye,
“I am saying what I have said and I am not repeating it, I have said it many times before.”
Keith Swift,
What do you think is behind all of this, why was this done, why did Mr. Shackron
make this statement, why did you get charged?
Jose Coye,
“I will ask the media to assist me in trying to find the motive. You all are far better in doing this than I might be able to do. I don’t really know why he did it.”
Keith Swift,
So categorically you received no money from Mr. Shackron?
Jose Coye,
“I did not and I think you should ask him but I did not.”
Keith Swift,
Did you have any business relations with this man?
Jose Coye,
“I have absolutely no business relations with him. My ten years of public life at the national level are ten years of impeccable service. I have absolutely no doubt about that. I did commit any wrong, I did not but I am saying I am putting my trust in this justice system. I think justice will prevail in the end, I have no doubt about that and I will be exonerated.”
And Coye’s new attorney Dickie Bradley says the former minister will be exonerated because there is no paper trail and no evidence against him.
Dickie Bradley, Coye’s Attorney
“If you really think about it, it is totally ridiculous that somehow somebody was paying out hundreds of thousands of dollars, there is no receipt, there is no witness, in fact he did not even have a conversation with Mr. Coye at any time about the matter. You just go and give money to somebody else, a third party allegedly, and then accused a third party of the matter – isn’t that totally ridiculous. We are talking half a million dollars is handed out by a businessman over a period of time and he doesn’t have one single check, he doesn’t have check stub, he doesn’t have a receipt, he didn’t do this at his office, he doesn’t have a single witness over all these months. Where is the evidence is what we are asking and that is the reason why there is no file here today because there is no evidence.”
And although Shackron does not want any further court action, it is important to note that he has not recanted his sworn statement. But again, he has indicated he does not want to proceed further. So then why weren’t the charges dismissed this morning. Well, two reasons. First, Senior Magistrate Dorothy Flowers who arraigned Coye is on leave. She’ll be there on July 24th – which is when the charges are expected to be formally dropped. But also, the DPP has reportedly instructed police to look into a few other details relating to Shackron’s claim. We speculate that may have something to do with Schakron’s claim that his life has been threatened.
