The Cayman Islands has been thrown into political turmoil as officers from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) Financial Crimes Unit (FCU) swooped down on the home of Cayman Premier McKeeva Bush in the early hours of this morning to arrest him
According to the Cayman Islands News Service, Bush was arrested at around 7.00 am this morning (December 11) at his home in West Bay on suspicion of theft in connection with financial irregularities relating to the alleged misuse of a government credit card.
This allegation adds to a list which includes breach of trust, abuse of office and conflict of interest, contrary to S13, S17 and S19 of the Anti-Corruption Law 2008 respectively. Allegations also include the importation of explosive substances without valid permits on or before February 2012.
A police spokesperson said it would be inappropriate for the RCIPS to make any further comment in relation to these matters at this time.
In April this year, a statement from the RCIPS revealed that the premier was the subject of three different police investigations. Two of those related to financial irregularities, one of which surrounds a letter sent by Bush to Texan developer Stan Thomas back in 2004 asking for $350,000 to settle a matter relating to a land deal and zoning. The third police probe, according to the police, was connected to an unlicensed shipment of dynamite that had arrived in Cayman.
At that time members of the business community expressed growing concerns over the impact that alleged investigations into Bush’s actions could have on the reputation of the Cayman Islands as a international financial services centre
SOURCE: Caribbean 360
