Former TCI leader claims unlawful imprisonment
(CNS): The former leader of the Turks and Caicos Islands has released a hand-written note from his high security jail cell in Brazil. Michael Misick claims that his human rights are being abused but has made it clear he wishes to return home and face the charges against him if he and his fellow accused are offered the opportunity of a jury trial. In the hand-written message scrawled on note paper, the former TCI premier claims he was legally living in Brazil, having claimed political asylum, and his detention is illegal and part of the UK efforts to humiliate him because of his support for independence.
The former premier has told the UK Consulate in Brazil that there is no reason for an extradition request as he wishes to return to his home country after more than three years in exile.
Misick, who is still wanted by the British authorities in Turks in connection with the on-going corruption investigation, was arrested in Brazil on 7 December by local police on an international arrest warrant as he arrived at the Santos Dumond airport in Rio de Janeiro. The Interpol warrant was supported by another issued by the Brazilian Supreme Court.
From his Brazilian prison Misick claims he is being illegally detained as a political prisoner in a maximum security facility. He also claims that his brother was denied access to him after traveling to the South American country and has accused the UK authorities of lying to the Brazilian government by saying he had escaped from TCI after the warrant for his arrest was issued. However, the beleaguered former premier has stated he is willing to face the investigators in TCI if he can be assured of a free and fair jury trial.
Following the end of direct UK rule in November, despite the widespread corruption allegations, Misick’s party was narrowly returned to office in the country’s first elections since the investigations began more than three years ago.
According to a release from the TCI governor’s office at the time of his arrest, the UK authorities were grateful to their Brazilian counterparts for their cooperation in the capture of Misick, who has been wanted for questioning by the special prosecution team for several years.
"The arrest was madeby the Brazilian Federal Police acting on an Interpol arrest warrant,” the governor’s office stated. “Michael Misick faces a number of serious charges relating to corruption and maladministration in the TCI. It is in the best interests of the TCI that allegations of wrongdoing are thoroughly investigated and that Misick returns there to answer these charges."
Misick left office having amassed an alleged fortune of some $180m and is suspected of corruption, misusing public money and profiting from the sale of government-owned land. Repeatedlydenying any wrongdoing, Misick has always claimed that the takeover by the British is a direct result of his continued fight against UK rule and his support for an independent Turks and Caicos Islands.
See Misick's prison message below.
Category: World News
Somebody should send Chewbakka out to help him.
If Misick gets trial by jury he gets off – simple as that. His party just won elections, despite all things that happened in the past. Wait til you see what Mac does here – I doubt the Caymanian electorate is any brighter. Mac is back (his new slogan)! 🙂
Not all of the electorate is from West Bay, and their are intelligent West Bayers, who would not be that stupid.
It seem we've all bought into the thinking that we (TC Islanders) can not see, understand, or do justly. The Islands might be small, the population likewise, but there are fair people who live here who take a stand without seeking a stage.
wonder what a jury of pears looks like?
Former Minister Charles Clifford talked about the corrupt connection between TCI and the Cayman Islands during the 2009 campaign and warned that we should be very careful in voting to ensure that Cayman didn't find itself in the same position as TCI.
Now some people wonder why certain people supported Mac during his darkest hour recently ?. Do you all remember the Chuckster talking about a company called XXXX and its involvement in TCI ? Remember which locals players were involved in XXX?
I do believe that Missick will sing like a bird in an effort to save himself (from luxury to prison life can be quite a culture shock !) once he's back in the TCI.
Certain local politicians, medical professionals and business people must be trembling now.
I say its time to clean house in Cayman. Let us show the world that we will not stand for corruption and let the Freedom of Information Law, the Auditor General, the Police and the DPP bring the sunshine into our political culture and system of government.
And one more thing…..to the former UDP 5 that ousted the Mac : You were 11 years too late !. You will not pull the wool over our eyes that easily. You supported and were involved in the questionable practices alongside Mac for the better part of 10 years. Why now ? You saw the writing on the wall didn't you and wanted to create a distance ? WE SHALL NOT FORGET !
Prepare the thatch brooms Cayman !
Sorry, did this story come from Brazil or Boltins Avenue?
Livin' my life in a slow hell, within this jail cell, I aint see the sunshine in 3 damn weeks. Been fuelin' up on letter writing, wished I had married a good girl from my country ,God knows she would have missed me. Send me back pleassse Lord I know that I will forever change my ways. LR I put your picture away, tried not to cry today. I wished that I had never laid eyes on you at the Essence awards. I put your picture away, sat down and cried the day. I thought about my country for a long time and can't seem to get it off of my mind. I can't understand why I'm living life this way, then I thought back to all that I've done and found the picture of my country today, I swear I'll forever change my ways. So I sat down and wrote you a long letter as I am unable to call to say that I want to come back home. I found your picture today, I swear I will change my ways, just writing to say that I want to come back home. Mike
From both places. I don't want to go with him, his hands are clean and his heart is too pure. The duneon is sooo dark, and the fire so hot.
You're like a broken record with the hands clean and hand pure comments… its wearing a bit thin now.
Spoken like a true bought and paid for UDP lackey
Actually that's Mac's favourite expression, but you're right – it's wearing a bit thin now.
Are his antics wearing thin? We tend to forget too quickly, you all need to be remided, because when it's time for the May elections, the majority will forget the shortcomings of the UDP. The same old, same old.
GOD BLESS THE QUEEN.
If he did nothing wrong! why run? now let him suck salt through a wooden spoon.
When will the Cayman Emperors have their day. Waiting to join in the parade.
CNS I found that if I changed the name, and numbers slightly, to incriminate the guilty in the following full and partial sentence in your article, that is the first part of the last paragraph, that it would be something that I expect to read in the near future as it relates to Cayman's current state of embarassment in the world arena.
"Misick left office having amassed an alleged fortune of some $180m and is suspected of corruption, misusing public money and profiting from the sale of government-owned land. Repeatedly denying any wrong doing,"
There was something else that struck me as reminisent of the situation of our former dis-honourable leader: "free and fair jury trial"!!! Someone has to pay and I pray that it doesnt have to be any more of my hard earned and more easily "misappropriated" money.
As a little side note. Just when I thought that I could not possibly be further astounded I recently read that our "illustrious" former leader spent more time traveling than the Secretary of State of the United States Hillary Clinton! OMG!!!! WHF??????
GOD BLESS THE QUEEN.
McKeeva taking notes now…wants a to be tried so long as it's a jury trial…And UK after him 'cos he wants independence…..So many similarities, it's as if these Banana republic despots have a script that they spout from co-authored by Foolio… it's frightening.
If Misick is a lawyer, it doesnt show by his writing.
I guess that is what happens when you take away their computers, internet access, legal assistants and perks to be replaced by lockdown in one of the worst prison in the world, 24hrs lock down without seeing the sun for 3 weeks, their marbles begins to rattle. Or maybe this is part of his defense as there is no way on earth that the man could have graduated with a LLB, Hons from the University of Buckingham and is a Barrister of Law at England and Wales and pen such a letter unless he was incoherent or someone else wrote it for him.
too clearly read?
This is indeed a sad ending to what was once a great beginning. Our political leaders in Cayman should really take heed and stop the greed, pride and political corruption. My prayers are with Michael but his downfall was orchestrated by himsef and those that encouraged his actions and not the UK government.
To poster 16:17
The business leaders who give them money should be arrested also….its not only the politicians that is corrupted……where did the money come from?.
One day they will be forced to follow the law and arrest you also, been blameing the politicians only but you are just as guilty.,
To Poster 13:09
Many of the business leaders who gave to Michael Misick in TCI was arrested also and are now facing trial in TCI. A caribbean banker who was once a personal friend to Misick and several caribbean politicians is now serving time in Florida to be returned to TCI to spend some time for his political gift giving otherwise known as corruption. Developers of resorts who were bestowed belongers by cabinet (equalivant to Status) were charged and the crown lands that were given to him by Misick returned so don't believe that the UK turns a blind eye to this type of corruption. The net is cast and many fish big and small will be caught. I will never be arrested for corruption because I do not condone political corruption. I welcome the day when the UK come here and not only arrest the corrput politicians that sell out their country but more so the business leaders and their minions that encourage and facilitate the corruption. Don't worry be Happy, the time is coming soon, Mike Misick will talk and when he does many will fall there, here and everywhere.
Ke-Ke was one of the 300 invited guests (ringbearer) at the wedding, Lisa Ray-Mcoy Misick, must be laughling her heart out while Ke-Ke is visiting the bathroom.
"In the hand-written message scrawled on note paper the former TCI premier claims h was legally living in Brazil having claimed political asylum".
So Misick was foolish enough to go and live in a country that has an extradition treaty with the UK? Wow. Not too bright.
He and our bright bird are busom buddies. What a falllllllllll!
Keekee can use this claim too
Awwww……..my heart bleeds for you. That fall from the high life must really have hurt. No sympathy from here.
Some people have no shame, do they?
That suit is a crime against fashion.
Oh Lord, fashion police. Nutin wrong wid da man suit.
That last sentence of this story seems eerily familiar to what our own MacMissick has been spouting for years too
Obviously this photograph was not taken in the Brazil jail. When he is extradicted to TCI he will sing like a Ching Ching as will his local counterpart in Cayman. There are going to be some interesting news items on CNS in 2013.
Not only on CNS but on TCI News.
Sorry old boy but its best if they take you to England for trial – too much pre-trial publicity in your own country.
And the same thing goes for others if charges are brought here. Although Bermuda might be a good alternative too. Let me call the Lady Premier in Bermuda and see if she agrees…
Since 18 December the Bermuda premier has been Craig Cannonier, not a lady.
There is no longer a lady premier in Bermuda, elections were held there a few weeks ago and the fair lady was ousted.
Um, lady Premier in Bermuda? You are out of touch pal. Their Premier (Craig Cannonier) was not a lady last time I looked!
KE_KE friend, she gone.
We seem to have so much in common with TCI with leaders spelling for independence to escape accountability.
So now he is willing to return to TCI and face the charges………..Guess life in Brazilian prison is not the same as in Brazilian High Society………
This man was the premier of TCI, amassed $180 million and done nothing wrong, sounds familiar. CNS you won't have very much editing to do when its time to reprint this article. Wonder if we'll ever know how much our first premier has amassed. How in the world was he able to function in office his spelling and grammar is atrocious, wonder which law school he graduated from.
The Honorary Doctorate Law School for Status Grants (HDLSSG), and he was so smart he lost out on that degree.
Billy U.D.P Freemoneyfor votes, this is very sad indeed ! and will only happen when politican allow themselves to be used by corrupt people. Don't forget that most of the corrupt players and schemes that are in TCI can be found in CI as well, the internet is a wonderful tool. His spelling and grammar is atrocious, but given the circumstances of stress and his fall from grace I will give him some allowances. He did graduate with a LLB, Hons from the University of Buckingham in the UK. "If you hang out with eagles you will soar, if you run with turkeys you will become one… sad to say but this is what has happened to Mike, Greed and a narcissistic personility were the pathway to his downfall.
Next he will be asking TCI Islanders to pay his legal bills because he is not a wealthy man.