NEW YORK, United States (CMC) — Former Barbados Government Minister Donville Inniss was found guilty of three criminal counts when he appeared in a federal district court in New York on January 17.
The unanimous verdict was handed down by a 12-member jury after just under two hours of deliberation.
Innis is guilty of two counts of money laundering and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The court found that the former legislator took bribes from insurance giant ICBL in 2015 and 2016 while he was minister of industry, international business, commerce and small business development.
ICBL paid him US$36,000 to use his authority to ensure that the firm’s million-dollar contract with the State-owned Barbados Industrial Development Corporation (BIDC) was renewed.
The court was told that he then conspired to hide the payment by having the money sent to a New York dental company, then deposited into his bank account through a series of transfers.
He is to remain on bail, pending sentencing next month.
