Long Island MP and Former WSC Chairman Arraigned

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Former Water and Sewerage Corporation Chairman Adrian Gibson, and six others appeared in the Magistrates Court today facing a total of 101 charges.

Monday’s arraignment following a police investigation into the state-run utility company.

Long Island Member of Parliament Adrian Gibson appearing in court, Monday, on charges related to contracts while he served as executive chairman of the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC).

Gibson was hit with a total of 56 counts of failing to declare his interest in contracts awarded by WSC.

Prosecutors allege Gibson made a false declaration of disclosure of interest in government contracts knowing the same to be false, on August 23, 2021,.

He was also charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit bribery.

It’s alleged that between June 23rd, 2020, and July 7, 2021, without lawful authority or a reasonable excuse, Gibson conspired to solicit an advantage from Oakbay Limited Trading as Baha Maintenance and Restoration, as an inducement to or reward for or otherwise on account of giving assistance or using influence in the procuring and executing of capital works projects with WSC.

He was then slapped with 15 counts of bribery. Prosecutors say between June 2020 and July 2021, Gibson solicited an advantage from Oakbay Ltd as an inducement to or reward for or otherwise on account of giving assistance or using influence in the procuring and executing of capital works projects with WSC.

Gibson, who is also a lawyer, was also charged with dishonestly receiving more than $1.2 milion for landscaping and maintenance contracts issued to Elite Maintenance, knowing the same was obtained or appropriated by an offense.

Gibson was then charged alongside his cousin Rashae Gibson and Tonya Demeritte with five counts of conspiracy to commit bribery.

Gibson, Joan Knowles, and Roshae were also hit with 16 counts of money laundering.

The trio is accused of using funds from Baha Maintenance to buy multiple vehicles from Be Forward and Hertz Car Rental, which represents the proceeds of crime.

The vehicles combined total just over $40,000

Gibson and his cousin were again charged with three counts of money laundering.

The pair is accused of using funds from Baha Maintenance and Restoration and Elite Maintenance to purchase vehicles from Be Forward and Hertz Car Rental.

The pair were again hit with six counts of money laundering.

They’re accused of using funds from Elite Maintenance to purchase plots of land from Marva Cay, Off Venice Bay Boulevard, Shirley Street Avenue, Off Shirley Street, and On Long Island.

The Long Island MP and Joan Albury were then hit with five counts of money laundering the pair is accused of using funds from Baha Maintenance to purchase vehicles from Be Forward which represents the proceeds of crime.

Gibson’s cousin, Rashae was also charged alongside Tonya Demeritte with five counts of conspiracy to commit bribery and five counts of fraud.

It’s alleged that between June 2020 and July 2021, the duo conspired to offer an advantage to a public servant as an inducement to or reward for or otherwise on account of him giving assistance, or using influence in the procuring and executing of capital works projects.

It’s also alleged that the pair obtain over $1m for capital works projects issued by the corporation to elite maintenance.

Joan Knowles and Jerome Missick were also hit with three counts of conspiracy to commit bribery, three counts of bribery, three counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false pretenses, fraud, and receiving.

The particulars are that June 2020 and November 2021, they conspired to offer an advantage to a public servant as an inducement to or reward for or otherwise on account of him giving assistance, or using influence in the procuring and executing of capital works projects by Oakbay Limited.

They’re also accused of defrauding the corporation.

Knowles was then hit with three counts of dishonestly receiving more than $578,000 by way of multiple wire transfers for capital works projects issued at WSC to Oakbay Limited.

Former Corporation General Manager Elwood Donaldson and Peaches Farquarhson were then charged with five counts of conspiracy to commit fraud.

Prosecutors say on June 3rd, 2020 the pair agreed to commit fraud by false pretenses for capital works projects issued by WSC to Elite Management Limited.

Donaldson, the former GM, was then charged with conspiracy to commit bribery.

He’s accused of seeking to solicit an advantage from Elite Maintenance for capital works contracts from WSC.

Tonya Demeritte and Jerome Missick were charged separately with six and five counts of money laundering and acquisition respectively.

The individuals allegedly acquired multiple vehicles from Hertz Car Rental and Be Forward which represents the proceeds of crime.

Missick is also accused of transferring multiple vehicles to Adrian Gibson which represents the proceeds of crime.

Magistrate Caroline Voght-Evans granted bail to Adrian Gibson in the amount of $150,000, Tonya Demeritte got $20,000 bail, Roshae Gibson received $50,000 bail, Joan Knowles received $25,000 bail, Jerome Missick received $50,000 bail, Peaches Farquarhson got $10,00 bail and Elwood Donaldson received $20,000 bail.

The group returns to court on September 14th for a voluntary bill of indictment.

Gibson was among six of those arraigned today that did not receive bail. Gibson’s cousin Roshae was the only one to receive bail in the amount of $50,000.

Following the arraignment, Free National Movement Leader Michael Pintard in a statement said the FNM will stand with Gibson and believe that he is innocent until proven guilty.