Minister Bowen

Energy Minister Gregory Bowen along with a group of Russians still have to answer charges of tortious conspiracy brought against them by U.S oil investor Jack Grynberg of RSM Production Corporation.

Bowen, along with Legal Advisor to the Cabinet, Hugh Wildman, announced on August 17 at a media briefing which was carried live on WEE FM that the Energy Minister was vindicated of the charges.

The case stems from an accusation from Grynberg that Bowen solicited a bribe from him in 1996 in order to facilitate a 1996 oil and gas agreement. The Deputy Prime Minister has consistently denied the charge, claiming that he never met Grynberg.

A court document dated August 10,  2007 which is in the possession of GRENADA TODAY shows that the Judge, Denise Cote hearing the case only ordered that the motions associated with documents 34 and 56 of the case be dismissed based on the time factor.

The lawyer acting on behalf of Grynberg has now brought the amended claim of tortious conspiracy which has triggered the attorneys for the defendant Gregory Bowen to file a memorandum of law in opposition to the plaintiffs' Rule 21 and Rule 15 motions which was filed on August 14.

Local attorney Anselm Clouden who called the media attention on August 20 to the fact that Bowen will be back in court following the Energy Minister's premature announcement of being vindicated now explained to the local press corp that the Rule 21 and Rule 15 motions deal specifically with the amendment.

"The amendments speaks to civil conspiracy and tortious interference by the defendants. So Mr. Bowen is back in court, not yet vindicated as I have indicated in the past," he said. Clouden reiterated his previous statement that the Grenadian people were misled into believing that he (Bowen) was vindicated from all charges.

There has been no official comment from Minister Bowen on the latest turn of events in the case.