Williams

Senior Resident Magistrate Glen Brown sent a strong message yesterday that every effort must be made to have the fraud case involving $451 million against east Kingston businessman Danhai Williams, his company, and five others brought to completion.

RM Brown pointed out that the case had been before the court since October 2003. He said he did not want the case to drag on until 2010.

The RM said what was needed was for the case to be set for hearing continuously during a two-month period. He called on the prosecutors and the defence lawyers to confirm such a period for the trial.

The accused, who are on bail, were ordered to return to court next week Thursday when the new trial date will be set.

The trial should have started yesterday in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court but had to be put off because two of the lawyers are appearing in a murder case in the Home Circuit Court.

Williams and his company, Danwill Construction, and five others were charged in October 2003 following a one-year probe into financial irregularities in the National Housing Development Corporation (NHDC)/Operation PRIDE projects. They are accused of defrauding the NHDC of $451 million. Williams is charged with 87 counts of fraud.

Those charged with Williams are Karl Kirkland, Warren Sibbles, Donovan Hill, Eugenny Porter, Wayne Nash, and Dwight Dawkins.