Rodrigues walks free after acquittal

Miriam Rodrigues leaving the courthouse after being acquitted

(CNS): The judge presiding over the CarePay corruption trial directed the jury Tuesday to find Miriam Rodrigues not guilty of the one charge against her in relation to the case, in which she was standing trial alongside Canover Watson. Rodrigues, who was charged with transferring criminal property, or money laundering, was acquitted today following a submission at the end of the crown’s case Monday by her defence attorney, Laurence Aiolfi, who argued there was not enough evidence to support the allegation that Rodrigues knew the cheques she handled were the proceeds of a crime.

Rodrigues had been charged primarily because she collected cheques from the Health Services Authority for AIS (Cayman) Ltd, which she had also paid into the company’s Fidelity account and because of the envelopes of cash she allegedly received from an employee of AIS to hold for Jeffrey Webb.

But Aiolfi said there was almost no evidence to support the idea that Rodriguez had any idea that what she was asked to do by either Webb or Watson was in any way criminal, especially as the cheques she had collected or paid into accounts as directed came directly from government.

The judge told the jury that he agreed with Aiolfi, and while the crown had argued that there were some elements of suspicion surrounding her answers to the police during interview or comments made in emails, it was by no means enough to support a conviction on the charge. He said that Rodrigues had admitted making mistakes and some wrong decisions but that was not a crime.

Explaining that no jury properly directed could convict Rodrigues, the judge directed the jury to acquit, and after the not guilty verdict was formally delivered, he released Rodrigues, who walked away from court a free woman.

When asked by CNS how she felt about being released from her 18 month ordeal, Rodrigues said that she was not surprised and the judge had done the right thing. She added that she expected to release a written statement at a later date.

Over the last eight weeks since the crown open its case against both Watson and Rodrigues, his former personal assistant, her name was barely mentioned. It was not until one of the RCIPS Anti-corruption Unit officers took the stand that Rodrigues’ alleged role in the corruption case emerged.

Rodrigues was initially interviewed as a witness and she told police that she had registered AIS (Cayman) Ltd at the request of Jeffrey Webb but knew very little of the details of the company, which was establish well before the Jamaica-based AIS had bid for the hospital contract.

With Rodriguez acquitted, Trevor Burke QC opened the defense case on behalf of Watson, who is expected to  take the stand Wednesday.

The case continues.