ST JOHN’S, Antigua--Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced over the weekend that the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has decided to appoint a special investigator to look into bribery and money laundering allegations against United Progressive Party (UPP) candidate in the March 21 general elections Dr. McChesney Emanuel.
Emanuel has denied fraudulent activities saying that the people making the allegations are on a smear campaign because he is likely to defeat his constituency opponent Charles Max Fernandez, Antigua News Room reported.
Speaking on local radio, the Prime Minister (PM) said the authorities in the United States (US) may have a case against Dr. Emanuel.
“He is also in violation of the laws of Antigua and Barbuda as well. So we are going to have to make a determination whether or not we pursue him,” Browne announced.
“In fact, we’ve taken a decision within the Cabinet to appoint a special investigator to investigate this matter and to turn it over to the DPP [Director of Public Prosecutions – Ed.] and other law enforcement officers to pursue it, because there is prima facie evidence of a bribe and money laundering.
“What we will do as well is collaborate with US authorities,” the Prime Minister told radio listeners.
Browne also alleged corruption after revealing that the UPP administration allegedly spent over one million dollars a year for an office for an honorary consul in the United States.
Emanuel served as Antigua and Barbuda’s honorary consul in New York from 2004 to 2014.
“We going to make an example out of somebody and Mac Emanuel, look out for us, you going to be that example” the PM said.
A senior US law enforcement source confirmed to Caribbean News Now that Emanuel’s name has been flagged in their systems as a “person of interest” for some time and their interest in him had now been revived as result of recent media reports and legal filings.
In an affidavit filed in a US court last month, Hong Kong businessman Peter Ming Chau stated under oath that Emanuel practiced the activity of “selling” official envoy titles and/or positions. Chau also disclosed proof of funds wire transferred to Emanuel’s company, Chez Technologies Inc. in the United States, thereby immediately conferring jurisdiction on US law enforcement and the courts to investigate and prosecute any money laundering offences.
Furthermore, the Chinese citizens with whom Emanuel was involved are said to be connected to Chinese intelligence services, thereby also giving rise to a US counter-intelligence investigation. ~ Caribbean News Now ~
