Misick released from jail

Former premier Michael Misick (FP)

Fri, February 08, 2013 - 6:13 PM

PROVIDENCIALS, Turks and Caicos, Feb 8, CMC – Former premier Michael Misick has been released from a prison in Brazil after he was granted bail by the Brazilian Supreme Court, a senior Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) government official said Friday.

Neil Smith, the spokesman for Governor Damian “Ric” Todd, said that the release of Misick on bail “does not mean that the legal process is exhausted”.

Last month, the TCI government said it had formally requested the extradition of Misick from Brazil, where he has been in prison since his arrest on December 7 last year.

Government officials said "the formal request" had been lodged with the authorities in Brazil and Smith said the documents had been submitted “within the 60 day time limit”.

Misick was arrested in Brazil as a result of an international arrest warrant issued by INTERPOL and a further warrant issued by the Brazilian Supreme Court.

The TCI said that his arrest had been sought in relation to an ongoing investigation by local authorities into issues arising from Sir Robin Auld's 2008-09 Commission of Inquiry, relating to alleged corruption and maladministration.

Misick was implicated in large-scale corruption in Turks and Caicos that led to the suspension of the democratic government in the TCI by the United Kingdom.

He faces several "serious charges" relating to corruption and maladministration in TCI, according to a statement issued last month by the SIPT.