ST. LUCIA HOUSING MINISTER FREDRICK HELD FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000810

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR-COLLINS
ADDIS ABABA FOR ANTHONY FISHER
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DOJ FOR OIA-ANDREW GENTEIN
DHS/ICE MIAMI FOR MICHAEL LAPORE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2017
TAGS: PGOV KCRM KJUS KTIA ST XL
SUBJECT: ST. LUCIA HOUSING MINISTER FREDRICK HELD FOR
QUESTIONING

REF: A. BRIDGETOWN 669

B. BRIDGETOWN 49

Classified By: CDA Mary Ellen T. Gilroy for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: St. Lucia Housing Minister Richard Fredrick
was questioned on June 18 by St. Lucian authorities for his
alleged involvement in customs duty evasion. After six
hours, he was released and asked to return on July 18 for
further questioning. Contacts stated that the Director of
Public Prosecutions is anxious that evidence recently
received under the U.S.-St. Lucia Mutual Legal Assistance
Treaty is not strong enough to charge Fredrick. These new
developments in the four-year investigation of Fredrick
appear to be a politically motivated attempt by Prime
Minister Sir John Compton and his allies to discredit
Fredrick publicly and prevent him from becoming prime
minister after Compton's expected retirement. END SUMMARY.

FREDRICK QUESTIONED...
--------------


2. (C) On June 18, St. Lucian customs and police authorities
detained Housing Minister Richard Fredrick for questioning in
conjunction with an ongoing customs investigation. The St.
Lucian Customs and Excise Office is investigating Fredrick
and two associates for evading customs duties on luxury
vehicle imports from Florida (ref A). Fredrick was in police
custody for six hours and then ordered to return for more
questioning on July 18. The impetus for his detention and
questioning was the receipt of evidence St. Lucia requested
under the U.S.-St. Lucia Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty
(MLAT).

BUT NOT CHARGED
--------------


3. (C) Fredrick has not yet been charged with any crime.
According to Embassy sources, the Director of Public
Prosecutions, Victoria Charles, is generally cautious in her
work and, in this case, is uncomfortable with the evidence
received under the MLAT. According to our contacts, Charles
wants certified statements from Florida witnesses interviewed
in response to the MLAT request. (Note: A Department of
Justice attorney familiar with the case said certified
statements are not usually collected if the witness shares
information willingly. While the Embassy has not yet
received any specific requests from St. Lucian authorities,
they may seek to obtain certified statements before the July
18 questioning to strengthen their case. End Note.)

POLITICAL AND PUBLIC SUPPORT
--------------


4. (C) A crowd of supporters reportedly gathered outside the
Gros Islet police station where Fredrick was being
questioned. (Note: Fredrick represents Castries Central, an
area only a short distance from Gros Islet, with regular
public transportation connecting the two areas. End Note.)
In addition to this gathering, four ruling party members of
parliament, Rufus Bousquet, Guy Joseph, Marcus Nicholas, and
Edmund Estaphane, visited Fredrick at the police station.
Callers to radio talk shows also voiced their dismay over
what they perceived as a mistreatment of a sitting minister
and member of parliament.

POTENTIAL POLITICAL FALLOUT
--------------


5. (C) If charged and convicted, Fredrick could face five
years imprisonment and/or a fine of ECD 10,000 (USD 4,000),
or three times the amount of customs duties he evaded (ref
A). More important than the criminal sentence, however, is
the negative effect this case may have on Fredrick's
political career. One cabinet member told PolOff that this
case would limit Fredrick's political aspirations. He stated
that, although his offense would seem minor if committed by
an average St. Lucian, the same offense would be exaggerated
when a sitting politician is involved. A prominent lawyer

also explained to PolOff that, according to St. Lucian law, a
sitting official convicted of a crime must resign and cannot
run for office again. He added that, if charged with a
crime, an official should resign, but is not legally
obligated to do so.

COMMENT: COMPTON PULLING THE STRINGS
--------------


6. (C) Given Fredrick's political stature and legal acumen,
obtaining a conviction could be an uphill battle. (Note:
Fredrick is a trained lawyer and runs a prominent law firm in
Castries. End Note.) However, PM Compton and his allies may
have calculated that a conviction may not be necessary to
take Fredrick out of the running for the top job.
Discrediting him publicly might be sufficient. While PM
Compton is a wily political operator, he is playing a much
weaker hand now, with more than half of his own cabinet
aligned against him. If not convicted of a crime, Fredrick
may be able to deflect the public embarrassment and use his
personal popularity, as well as his wealth, which he
allegedly gained through money laundering and defending
narcotraffickers (ref B),to extend his political career
despite Compton's maneuverings.
GILROY