When we left Chief Justice’s courtroom at the Supreme Court yesterday, former Prime Minister Said Musa’s attorney Edwin Flowers had used up the entire day to present his case. He argued that the Belmopan Magistrate’s decision to commit Musa to stand trial for theft in the Supreme Court was flawed in many ways. Today, DPP Cheryl Lynn Branker Taitt had her turn to respond – and while not as lengthy as Flowers, she used up most of the day to present her case. Janelle Chanona has the story from the Supreme Court.
Janelle Chanona,
Mr. Said, any reaction, you’ve been listening to the DPP all day.
Said Musa, Charged for theft
“Yes my reaction is a very simple one, that I know I did nothing wrong and nothing that she said or brought up today or anytime has shown otherwise quite frankly and I think we are just going through the motions now. Only a matter of time before I am vindicated.”
That was a very confident Said Musa leaving the courtroom today after a full day of submissions by Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl Lynn Branker-Taitt. That confidence was echoed by his legal team.
Lisa Shoman, Attorney for Said Musa
“A request is not an instruction. Anybody could say I request you, I ask of you to do it this way – that is not an instruction. It has never been an instruction. Mr. Musa has never alleged that he gave any instruction. The Government of Venezuela was only too happy to go along with what was being requested. The Government of Venezuela was very aware as to what the intention was and Mr. Musa’s case is that he followed up on that intention and that there was no deception and there was no theft involved.”
Janelle Chanona,
So if any instructions were given, you are saying it was wholly Amalia Mai’s?
Lisa Shoman,
“No my dear, please. I am saying to you that whatever it is that Amalia Mai did was in countenance with an understanding that was had from before and if there was anything different, there is absolutely no evidence anywhere that the claimant gave any contrary directions as to what was happening. If the Venezuelans don’t come here to say to you certain things, you cannot conclude those things. That has never been brought out in evidence, it has never been alleged to Mr. Musa and Mr. Musa cannot and will not answer to something that he is not being asked to answer to. And so therefore all the allegations and insinuations are like we would say in Creole, all the seh seh seh adds up to absolutely nothing except this: that there was an understanding, that that understanding was followed on both by Mr. Musa and the Venezuelans, that the monies were disbursed properly and that there were was no theft.”
The DPP declined comment today. The hearing is expected to conclude tomorrow following a final presentation by Senior Counsel Edwin Flowers on behalf of Said Musa.
