UPDATED: Former deputy speaker arrested in theft probe

As of Friday, May 19, 2017

Police officers along with ACP Clayton Fernander leaving the BAIC office on Old Trail Road. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

By SANCHESKA DORSETT

and RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporters

DION Smith, the former deputy speaker of the House of Assembly, was yesterday taken into custody in connection with an ongoing probe into “theft by reason of employment” at the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation, which he headed under the Christie administration.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander, the former Nassau Village MP turned himself over to authorities shortly after 4pm in the presence of his attorney, Wayne Munroe, QC.

ACP Fernander at the time could not say how long police intended to keep Mr Smith in custody, but said he was assisting officers with their investigations into the matter. However, another senior police official said it was “more than likely” Mr Smith would be held overnight.

This comes as police have released the eight BAIC employees who were being questioned in connection with the investigation earlier this week, all of whom are also being represented by Mr Munroe.

On Tuesday, police said seven employees were taken into custody, however yesterday police said another worker was also questioned and later released.

Last night Mr Munroe warned that the arrest and subsequent questioning of Mr Smith without any “merit of a charge” sets a “dangerous precedent” for government officials.

Mr Munroe indicated that shortly after being taken into custody, Mr Smith gave a statement and was taken by officers to his headquarters and then to his home.

The attorney added that subsequent to this, Mr Smith was transported to the Cable Beach Police Station where he was expected to spend the night.

“This is very, very concerning,” Mr Munroe, a member of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), said. “This is a very sad step we are taking politically in this country because it sets a precedent where an outgoing government could face this course of action without any firm evidence.

“Can you imagine an outgoing prime minister having to face this sort of treatment as a new government looks to be satisfied on matters of finance?”

Mr Munroe told The Tribune that Mr Smith, who was reported to be out of the country on vacation since late last week, returned to the capital on Tuesday.

Mr Munroe said his client at the time of his return offered to assist officers in their investigations but was informed that his help was not needed at the time.

He added that Mr Smith followed developments in the investigation closely and once contacted Thursday, he immediately surrendered himself to police.

“Mr Smith in his capacity as chairman at BAIC could not handle any money and has nothing to hide,” Mr Munroe also said.

“He has remained accessible since Tuesday . . . but this entire situation has come across politically motivated.”

Mr Munroe however, applauded the actions of senior law enforcement officers who interviewed Mr Smith Thursday.

He said the officers involved yesterday were in stark contrast to the officers that “swarmed” BAIC offices brandishing firearms.

In an interview with The Tribune yesterday before Mr Smith’s arrest, Mr Munroe said the group was released, but added that police could file charges at another date “if they so choose.”

Mr Munroe also said as far as he knew, his clients did not remove anything from the property of BAIC that belonged to the agency.

The employees were taken into custody earlier this week after reports that some items were allegedly taken from BAIC on the night of the election and the day after.

A source close to the matter told The Tribune that police suspected the employees of allegedly attempting to destroy files and remove evidence from BAIC that could possibly show funds were being misappropriated.

However, Mr Munroe said there was no evidence of anything being stolen and to his understanding the employees only removed personal items from the building. In fact, Mr Munroe said it was also his understanding that an inventory check was conducted and “nothing was found to be missing.”

“The persons were released Wednesday evening and there have been no charges to date but that doesn’t stop police from doing it later,” Mr Munroe said early Thursday.

“There were never any allegations of money being stolen, when I went to BAIC the officers were on the premises with guns. I was told that it was about a television and a CPU and some files. I am also made to understand that the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture did an inventory check and everything was there. An outgoing political appointee has the choice to move his property because if you leave your stuff it might end up in the garbage.”

Mr Munroe also denied rumours that Mr Smith fled the country after the allegations. He said Mr Smith was previously out of the country with his family.

“I have represented Mr Smith and his family in respect to various matters over the years. He has not been questioned by police but if they wish to see him I will represent him, but I don’t see what they would want to see him about,” Mr Munroe said before his client was taken into custody.

“I think it would be obvious that when you get beat, you take your things or they will be thrown out. I thought it would be obvious that the outgoing chairman would take their stuff if they get beat. Some of our colleagues packed up a week before the election because they did not want to go back to their offices if they lost. If you are not packed up before then you have to move election night or your stuff will get thrown out. We lost. He lost,” Mr Munroe said.

Around 1.30pm Thursday, investigators led by ACP Fernander were seen leaving the Old Trail Road offices of BAIC.

It is understood that during their time inside the facility, investigators spoke to several employees across several departments.

Well_mudda_take_sic 6 years, 11 months ago

The small fry like Dion Smith always get the full force of the law stomping on them while the really big fish like Sir Snake, Christie, Bag Man Bethel, the Wicked Witch Maynard-Gibson and others like them ride off into the sunset to enjoy their ill-gotten gains and unjust riches obtained at the people's expense!

sheeprunner12 6 years, 11 months ago

Fall guys will not squeal on the Big-wigs ........ Bye, Bye Dynamite!!!!!!!!

Do the nation a favour and rat out Davis & Gray (who you worked for)

banker 6 years, 11 months ago

We now live in different times. The PLP is reduced to impotence and you may see the small fry roll over.

Greentea 6 years, 11 months ago

One can only hope Banker. One can only hope.

BahamaPundit 6 years, 11 months ago

Man. Seems like the Bahamas was being run by a bunch or thugs and gangsters under the PLP. No wonder crime was out of control.

Porcupine 6 years, 11 months ago

From the top on down.

Baha10 6 years, 11 months ago

Not sure where you have been BahamaPundit, but welcome to The Bahamas of today! Unfortunately no easy or quick fix, if at all ... as what no one wants to acknowledge is that it may actually already be too late, in that what we just did will not actually stop us from going over the Cliff, if we are already over it!!!

ThisIsOurs 6 years, 11 months ago

This the same man who was on the radio talking about the wonderful things happening at BAIC and how he wanted to get additional funding so he could not only help people with business plans but also give out loans through BAIC, Juan McCartney seemed impressed but I knew I smelled a rat

jusscool 6 years, 11 months ago

Now we all know what wonderful things he referred to!

ThisIsOurs 6 years, 11 months ago

Imagine if Ducky had gotten elected.

spoitier 6 years, 11 months ago

This could very well be pandering to the people as usual, just like how they do in the U.S by charging a cop when they murder a black man only to acquit them later. I would like to be prove wrong but I really doubt that I will.

ThisIsOurs 6 years, 11 months ago

I'm completely disillusioned, I don't see a way clear to stop these opportunists from crooking the system. I don't believe there's a young "unqualified" man in the country who's not looking at 2022 as their get rick quick chance . Maybe if someone like Perry Christie or Brave Davis went to jail fir a long time that might send a signal, not sure...

Voltaire 6 years, 11 months ago

Squeal on dem Dion!! Everyone knows you are only small potatoes. Call out the big names and save yourself and the country one time!

BahamaPundit 6 years, 11 months ago

I think it will become clearer and clearer as more information is uncovered that the PLP was running a sham government. Their entire five year term was one big money laundering scheme - laundering public funds into private accounts. Something must be done by the FNM to ensure another sham government can never rule this country again as their private piggy bank.

Sickened 6 years, 11 months ago

We may not be able to arrest these guys but we sure can put proper procedures in place to make it very difficult for future government officials to steal the people's money.

Well_mudda_take_sic 6 years, 11 months ago

If they can't be arrested that means Minnis was full of you know what in claiming that many of the big wigs in the last PLP government were corrupt to the core and robbing the Bahamian people blind. Or is Minnis fearful of warranted criminal prosecutions that could come back to haunt him given what he and his select few cronies may have planned for the next five years in terms of greatly enriching themselves at the expense of the Bahamian people? Uuummm!

BahamaPundit 6 years, 11 months ago

I say bring in the English secret service and get this country sorted out the way the English sorted out Turks and Caicos and Michael Misick. That is the only way forward. With corruption this deep we must burn the house down and start from scratch. There is no point the Bahamas doing anything, if its public service is thiefing every dime left on the counter top.

ThisIsOurs 6 years, 11 months ago

I agree it's just too scummy. Maybe they should start making them come to work in tshirts to rid everyone of the illusion that this is the road to wealth

Porcupine 6 years, 11 months ago

Absolutely correct.

Well_mudda_take_sic 6 years, 11 months ago

Whole heartedly concur!

TalRussell 6 years, 11 months ago

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by TalRussell

watcher 6 years, 11 months ago

BAIC seems as good a place as any to start the investigations. When / if the little people start to squeal to save their own skins, then we will work up the chain to Road Traffic, BoB, BAMSI, the landfill, Baha Mar, Urban Renewal etc etc

Well_mudda_take_sic 6 years, 11 months ago

Time is critical when it comes to the conduct of forensic accounting investigations ...... the more time goes by the more difficult the investigation becomes with the disappearance of documents and people. Always better to start with the really big stuff...Baha Mar, BoB, etc. The small stuff can be done later, if it needs to be done at all.

SP 6 years, 11 months ago

Corruption in the Bahamas is a massive enterprise that entangles many people collaborating across diverse ministries to function.

Obviously, an equally massive well-oiled " high-level administrative team" would be required operating end-to-end throughout the various ministries facilitating these people.

However, there is no need to burn down the house to catch a few rats.

Prime Minister Minnis needs to give serious consideration to implementing a "whistleblower" initiative. Perhaps offering a 5% bounty on information leading to corruption and recovery of pilfered state funds, or partial to full immunity if an individual was also involved.

Unquestionably, as the dominos begin to fall, people would be falling over each other to report corruption hoping to save their own skins.

ThisIsOurs 6 years, 11 months ago

Good idea

SP 6 years, 11 months ago

The Bahamas is not unique with institutional corruption and does not have to "reinvent the wheel" in dealing with it.

Many countries effectively use "whistleblower" programs to identify, stop, and discourage corruption.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistle...">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistle...

Prime Minister Minnis has any number of tools and several qualified MP's at his disposal that could be designated to quickly adapt international norms to effectively implement a whistleblower program.

https://www.globalwhistleblower.org/">https://www.globalwhistleblower.org/

Motivating insiders to divulge information has proven the most expediant vehicle to exposing corruption.

ThisIsOurs 6 years, 11 months ago

I was wondering if "they" got Wayne Monroe or if Wayne Monroe was "sent". Like the mob boss sending his high powered lawyer to protect the limo driver.

Gotoutintime 6 years, 11 months ago

What I don't understand is--If the Police have information or suspicion that a crime has been committed why does it take a change of Government in order to have it investigated??

Tarzan 6 years, 11 months ago

Really???? You have to be kidding.

OMG 6 years, 11 months ago

Because political favoritism extend to some senior officers and don't forget that many officers are masons and sworn to help each other.

sealice 6 years, 11 months ago

So it's not about guilt it's about who you are??? FU you ugly SOS and take your dam signs down you ugly we know it you don't have to prove it repeatedly.....

TalRussell 6 years, 11 months ago

Comrades! According to the then Red Party's South Abaco MP and Executive Chairman of Bahamas Agriculture and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) Edison Key - (BAIC) had back in 2007, paid a law firm $5,000 as a retainer to start the process of collecting 'bad debts' on the books (BAIC). My question is - since 2007, were any of these 'bad debts' ever collected, and if not, why not?
Exactly what is the total amount of current 'bad debts' portfolio that have gone uncollected and remain on the books of (BAIC?
It's The People's Time" to know the true and real amount 'bad debts' not only on the books at (BAIC), but on the books of all other government owned or financially backed identities?

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