Grenada Today - The National Newspaper of Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique

Outspoken criminal defense attorney, Anslem Clouden is calling on the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Christopher Nelson to undertake a full-fledged criminal investigation into the conduct of his predecessor, Jamaican Hugh Wildman during his tenure between 1998 and 2001.

Clouden made the call on Monday in a briefing to local reporters on a recent visit to St. Lucia by a delegation of Grenadian lawyers to seek the support of their regional colleagues in the anti-Wildman campaign for the post of Attorney-General of Grenada.

He spoke of the need for there to be an immediate criminal investigation into Wildman's conduct based on allegations made against him before he could be formally appointed in the post. He recalled that in 1999 while Wildman was holding the post of DPP, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) had written to him with a view to coming to Grenada to carry out an investigation into the offshore outfit, First International Bank of Grenada (FIBG) and its president Van Brink.

According to Clouden, the FBI request was denied and there are reports that the bureau's efforts to investigate the bank that subsequently collapsed with depositors losing millions of dollars, were frustrated by Wildman himself. He also referred to an e-mail that was written by the former CEO of First Bank, Lawrence Jones to Brink which became a high point of discussion in a high court case in London between Jones and his former mistress, Kerry Cox.

Clouden said that Jones had made reference to a certain legal official in Grenada whom he described as "expensive" but has the ears of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell. The local attorney pointed out that the residing judge, Justice Mann although not naming that public official in his judgement made reference to the e-mail which he said smacks of bribery.

Clouden said: "This is a very crucial and noteworthy point. Bribery is a criminal offense and with such cloud hanging over (his) head, (this) is just another matter that has to be dealt with and it must be cleared even if the appointment is to go ahead,

"So there must be some level of investigation to determine whether or not he had acted inappropriately during his tenure in office in so far as that e-mail and the Judge's remarks are concerned," he added. Clouden suggested that it is incumbent on all parties concerned in particular the OECS Heads of Government, the Judicial & Legal Services Commission (JLSC), regional bars and other organisations, to ensure that an impartial investigation be undertaken to clear the air on this issue in order to protect the integrity of the office of Attorney General.

He later told GRENADA TODAY that Wildman's conduct should be investigated in a similar fashion as the "Brief Case Inquiry" into the allegation against Prime Minster Mitchell that he had accepted a bribe of US$500,000.00, from German fraudster, Eric Resteiner for a diplomatic position.

The lawyer said it must be noted that the Mitchell inquiry was being called for by OECS heads even as Wildman himself had said there was nothing to investigate.
Wildman also stated publicly that the Leader of the Opposition and other members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who had made certain public statements on the issue could be arrested for peddling libel.