Syed trial in limbo after another adjournment

Hassan Syed

(CNS): The trial of the former president of the University College of the Cayman Islands remains in limbo after his case was adjourned last week as the lawyers involved try to find a slot in the packed court docket to hear the case, which has dragged on for some time. Hassan Syed (49) is charged with a list of offences, including deception and theft of at least $250k from the local college between 2006 and 2008.

The Pakistani national had left Cayman before his alleged crimes came to light after he claimed to be ill and had requested leave to seek medical treatment overseas. When the alleged fraud was uncovered in late 2008 as a result of an audit, the authorities missed an opportunity to net Syed when he was working at a college in Canada before he disappeared.

An Interpol warrant was issued for his arrest and he was eventually located and arrested in Switzerland in 2014. An extradition process commenced but Syed agreed not to fight the extradition on the condition that if he returned he would get access to medical treatment, as he was said to be suffering from a serious illness. Syed was returned to Grand Cayman in May 2014 and was bailed on an electronic tag to a home of a local family with whom he had strong connections.

Since then, several trial dates have been set and vacated due to Syed’s difficulties securing legal representation. The most recent trial date, which had been scheduled as a backup for November, was also vacated after the current Watson CarePay corruption case opened. Syed’s bail has been extended until January next year, when it is anticipated that a new trial date will be fixed for what is expected to be a six week-long trial.