Money Laundering?

Attorney Harold Brady has placed on the table the real possibility of money laundering activities being involved in the Manatt, Phelps & Phillips (MPP)/Dudus Extradition affair.

It has now been revealed that MPP insisted that any arrangement had to be on the basis of a government initiative and a paid retainer. Hence Brady had to assume the position/authority as a Consultant to the Government of Jamaica (GOJ). Of equal importance the retainer and subsequent payments would have had to be consistent with the contract being with the Government of Jamaica.

Thus the payments could not appear to be made by either a private individual or the Jamaica Labour Party. This is so because neither had any contract with MPP. The only entity that had a contractual relationship with MPP was the GOJ (albeit throughout Harold C. Brady - its Consultant.) To be acceptable to and accepted by MPP, the payments had to appear as emanating from the GOJ.

Brady alleges that PM Golding, after being informed of MPP conditions agreed to such and delegated Minister Vaz to handle all the "financial implications".

It is critical to read carefully Brady's allegations on this score, noting the sections that have been capitalized for emphasis.

"Consequently, our client is unaware of the mechanics of the payment of the MPP retainer WHICH WAS NOT HANDLED either BY HIS LAW OFFICE or by him personally"

Certain questions are unavoidable:

• What were the so-called "financial implications" involved?
• If neither Brady nor his office handled the "mechanics of the payment of the MPP retainer", did Daryl Vaz handle such?
• What were the so-called  "mechanics of the payment"?
• Were the payments to MPP laundered through any GOJ agency?
• Were the payments made by cheque or wire transfer?
• A news release stated that Brady & Co. had paid the sum of US$15,000.00 in order to bring closure to the arrangement with MPP.  Was such in furtherance of PM Golding's instructions "to ensure, as best as possible, that the Government did not appear to be involved"?