(CMR) Canover Norbert Watson and Bruce Blake appeared in court Wednesday where they pleaded not guilty to eight separate counts related to a case brought by the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACC) and what they allege is a Cayman Islands Football Association fraud.
A trial date has been set for April 7 in what is expected to be a lengthy trial of possibly eight weeks.
The case management hearing involved various lawyers and court employees working through some of the logistics of the complex case which cover some 2,000 pages of exhibits and extensive interviews with Blake.
Justice Chapple requested that the defense attorneys review their notes for core defense issues to present to the Grand Court. However, attorney Amilia Fosuhene shared that it was near impossible to do this after the unsuccessful dismissal hearing which saw the Crown change the basis of the allegations and the case summary. In fact, she noted that “the goal post has moved since we began this matter” and encouraged the court to insist on “a case summary we can rely on.”
The defendants had eight charges put to them which they pleaded not guilty to. They are:
Watson: Count 1 – Engaging in secret commissions contract to s.21(1) of the Anti-Corruption Law (2008 Revision) – intent to deceive the Condfereation of North and Central America and the Caribbean Football Association when he gave three sales invoices which were false or erroneous.
Blake: Count 2 – Entering into an arrangement contrary to s.134(1) Proceeds of Crime Law (2008 Revision) – with Bruce Blake between October 15 and November 9, 2013 where he entered into or became concerned in an arrangement with Watson which he knew or suspected facilitated the retention, control of criminal property of USD$500,000.
Watson: Count 3 – Transferring criminal property contrary to s.133 of Proceeds of Crime Law (2008 Revision) – Watson transferred USD$600,000 from an account of Forward Sports International Management in Panama to the Cayman Islands Football Association account knowing or suspecting in whole or part the process of crime.
Watson: Count 4 – Transferring criminal property contrary to s.133 of Proceeds of Crime Law (2008 Revision) – Watson transferred USD$300,000 from an account of Forward Sports International Management in Panama to the Cayman Islands Football Association account knowing or suspecting in whole or part the process of crime.
Blake: Count 5 – Acquiring criminal property contrary to s.135 of Proceeds of Crime Law (2008 Revision) – Blake between January 1, 2014-March 31st took $140,000 from an account of Forward Sports International Management in Panama.
Watson: Count 6 – Entering into an arrangement contrary to s.134(1) Proceeds of Crime Law (2008 Revision) – $140,000 from Forward Sports International Management in Panama.
Watson & Blake: Count 7 – False accounting contrary to s.255(1)(b) Penal Code (2013 Revision) – Watson and Blake on August 11, 2014 procured a loan agreement between CIFA and Forward Sports International Management in Panama a loan agreement for USD$600,000 dated December 31, 2013.
Watson & Blake: Count 8 – False accounting contrary to s.255(1)(b) Penal Code (2013 Revision) – Watson and Blake furnished information for the purposes of an audit with Cartan International Management Inc. for USD$600,000.
The attorneys agreed to some deadlines for the provision of documents etc. by February 25.
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