Lawyer on corruption rap goes it alone

Attorney-at-law Conrad Powell is representing himself at his trial for an alleged breach of the Corruption Prevention Act.

Powell is to return to the May Pen Resident Magistrate's Court, Clarendon, on October 26 when his trial will continue.

He is on bail in the sum of $500,000 with a surety.

The Crown, represented by Dirk Harrison, senior deputy director of public prosecutions, is alleging that in January, Powell was providing legal representation for two persons charged in connection with the cash-for-gold trade.

He allegedly contacted the arresting officer in the case and made arrangements for $20,000 to be paid as a bribe to compromise the cases on behalf of his clients.

The arresting officer made a report to his superior officers and policemen from the Anti-Corruption Branch were notified. A sting operation was set up and Powell was held after he allegedly made a part payment of $10,000.

A court official testified at the trial, before Resident Magistrate Desiree Alleyne, that Powell approached him and asked him if the file had to be submitted, and he told him yes.

The arresting officer testified that he was in his office when Powell arrived there and asked for him. He pretended he was not there, but he listened while two of his colleagues spoke with Powell.

The lawyer left a telephone number for him. He told his superior officers what had happened and controlled calls were made to Powell.

Audio recordings and transcripts of the telephone conversations and and audio and video recordings of the sting operation were tendered in evidence.