Imprisoned international fraudster, Eric Resteiner is fearful for his life.
Authoritative sources told GRENADA TODAY that Resteiner is concerned about his well-being if the U.S deport him to Grenada after serving a jail sentence for illegally obtaining millions of dollars in wire and mail fraud.
Speculation is rife that Resteiner could be released from prison within the next year.
The crook and con-man was recently questioned at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility in Boston in connection with a video-tape that allegedly portrays Grenada Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell receiving a substantial bribe payment from him.
Resteiner reportedly handed over a US$500, 000.00 payment to the Grenadian leader in a briefcase in June 2000 to secure a diplomatic position with the hope of protecting him from law enforcement officials in the United States.
Dr. Mitchell claimed that he received"approximately US$15, 000" from the fraudster to help cover the cost of an investment mission to several European capitals and Kuwait.
U.S oil investor Jack Grynberg has secured permission from a Boston court compelling Resteiner to hand over to him the video-tape for possible use in a bribery case involving the deputy prime minister of Grenada, Gregory Bowen.
The source said that Resteiner indicated in talks held with Grynberg team of lawyers that he could be killed since the alleged video-tape was"explosive" and contains"highly damaging" information.
In a court document obtained by this newspaper, the conman is making demands to be placed in a witness protection programme.
Resteiner is said to be looking at moving to the Seychelles in Africa at the end of his jail sentence in the United States.
The con-man who gave up his U.S citizenship while on the run is said to have purchased economic citizenship in both Grenada and the Seychelles
Gryberg is also said to have issued a subpoena for Timothy Bass, the former Chief of Security for Resteiner, to testify before the Boston Court on the alleged video-tape involving Prime Minister Mitchell.
Bass is known to have sworn to an affidavit before a Justice of the Peace that he video-taped the financial transaction with Dr. Mitchell in June 2000 at St. Moritz, Switzerland on the instructions of Resteiner.
Grynberg has indicated that he plans to use the video-tape against both Dr. Mitchell and Bowen.
