Court temporarily prevents extradition of businessmen

Lawyers representing two Trinidadian financiers of the United National Congress (UNC) have been able to temporarily block the extradition of their clients to the United States to face corruption charges.



Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson are wanted in the US to answer the charges in connection with bid-rigging allegations stemming from the construction of the terminal at the Piarco International Airport.



Although their lawyers were able to prevent the extradition proceedings, Galbaransingh and Ferguson are to remain behind bars at the maximum security prison in Arouca.



The court denied an application for bail.



The order granted by the court prevents the Attorney General from authorising the extraditions until the hearing and determination of a constitutional motion that was filed by the businessmen’s lawyers, challenging the legality of an aspect of the Extradition Act.