Just before 9:30 a.m. Barbados time, former government minister Donville Inniss arrived at the United States Eastern District Court in New York to answer charges of money laundering.
He was accompanied by his wife Gail, former attorney general and lawyer Adriel Brathwaite and another member of his legal team.
He has been charged with attempting to launder US$36 000 in illegal payment using the “US financial system”.
Inniss held several portfolios under the former Democratic Labour Party administration.
The charges allege that while he was in his last post as Minister of Commerce and Industry, he leveraged his position to accept US$36 000 from executives at the Insurance Corporation of Barbados Ltd. and to launder that money through the United States.
Federal District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto is hearing the trial.
The United States is one hour behind Barbados due to Daylight Saving Time. (MB)
