For the past week, rumors have been circulating in legal circles that
DPP Kirk Anderson is considering bringing charges of money laundering against
leader of the opposition, Dean Barrow. That rumor today made it to print when
the story was mentioned in two articles in today's times.
Through its own investigation, 7 news has learned that the DPP has
written to the director of the Financial Intelligence Unit Keith Arnold recommending
that money laundering charges be brought against Barrow and the Atlantic Bank.
Both do business with EPZ company Target Data Pro, the owner of which, Jared
Wheat, is under investigation by the united states department of justice for
money laundering. Anderson alleges that Barrow has been paid lawyer's fees from
an Atlantic Bank account whose proceeds are derived form money laundering.
But Anderson is the only convinced that the account is tied to money
laundering activity, because twice two different justices of the supreme court
have struck down applications to freeze the account. Most recently, just two
weeks ago, the chief justice said that the DPP's application to freeze had no
merit. Still, that had no effect on the DPP, but it did instruct the actions
of the FIU director Arnold, who, as we understand it, has informed the DPP that
there is no evidence or authority to suggest that such charges can be brought.
With that, what we understand to be a firm refusal, the plan is stalled,
but it's worth noting because of the explosive political nature of even the
suggestion to bring such charges against a political leader. For background,
we note that Barrow and the DPP had a quite fierce showdown in arguments on
the same case before the chief justice a week ago, in a hearing that Barrow
ended up winning when the chief justice ordered the target account un-frozen.
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