Charges of larceny, fraudulent conversion and corruption have been filed against the leader of the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) Harold Lovell and his colleagues MP Wilmoth Daniel and Senator Dr Jacqui Quinn.
The criminal cases are in relation to the three Daewoo buses worth a total of more than $600,000, which were donated to the former UPP administration and it is alleged the trio converted the buses for personal use and had them registered in their names while they were in public office.
Lovell and Quinn declined comment, while MP Daniel could not be reached. However, in a statement to the media, the UPP said it “denounces the continued harassment and political persecution of former members of its administration.”
The UPP accused the Antigua Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) administration of orchestrating the charges on the eve of its second anniversary on June 12, to deflect focus from its “dismal failures” to deliver on any of the promises that it made to the electorate and its recent scandal of knighting a convicted criminal in exchange for money.”
The party wrote, “The charges reflect a poor attempt to cover up the political policing practised by the Gaston Browne administration, in full collaboration with the Commissioner of Police.”
The charges were filed in the St John’s Magistrates’ Court yesterday, May 30, and the three opposition members are to make their first court appearance on Wednesday, June 8, before Magistrate Conliffe Clarke, according sources who spoke with OBSERVER media.
Daniel and Dr Quinn were served with their summons early yesterday and a well-placed source said Lovell was issued with his around 4 pm when he returned to his office from lunch. Lovell and Quinn confirmed receipt of their summons.