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Ewart Brown faces 13 corruption charges

Ewart Brown, former Premier of Bermuda (File photograph by Akil Simmons)

Ewart Brown, the former Premier of Bermuda, was charged with 13 counts of corruption in Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Cindy Clarke, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the 13 charges included five related to agreements with the Lahey Clinic, through which he allegedly received $4.01 million in monthly payments between 2001 and 2010.

The remaining eight charges related to allegations of corruptly obtaining $350,500 in donations to benefit the Progressive Labour Party and the Bermuda Health Foundation between 2007 and 2010.

The offences allegedly took place between 2001 and 2010, with the earlier offences taking place while he was the Minister of Tourism and Transport and the latter taking place while he was Premier.

Dr Brown, who appeared remotely via Zoom from Florida, was not required to enter a plea to any of the charges because they must be heard by the Supreme Court.

He remained silent during the proceedings, only speaking to confirm he could hear senior magistrate Juan Wolffe.

Mr Wolffe released Dr Brown on $250,000 bail with a surety of the same amount.

The matter is expected to be called in the Supreme Court during the April arraignments session.

The specific charges are:

1- Between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2001, while the holder of public office as a Government Minister, corruptly asked and agreed to receive a benefit, namely fees to be paid in monthly instalments for himself on account of services provided or to be provided by him to Lahey Clinic Inc and Lahey Clinic Hospital Inc over the years 2001, 2002 and 2003.

2- Between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2001, while the holder of public office as a Government Minister, corruptly asked and agreed to receive a benefit, namely fees to be paid in monthly instalments for Bermuda Health Care Services Ltd on account of services provided or to be provided by him to Lahey Clinic Inc and Lahey Clinic Hospital Inc over the years 2001, 2002 and 2003.

3- Between June 1, 2004 and December 31, 2004, while the holder of public office as a Government Minister, corruptly asked and agreed to receive a benefit, namely fees to be paid in monthly instalments for himself on account of services provided or to be provided by him to Lahey Clinic Inc and Lahey Clinic Hospital Inc over the years 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

4- Between June 1, 2004 and December 31, 2004, while the holder of public office as a Government Minister, corruptly asked and agreed to receive a benefit, namely fees to be paid in monthly instalments for Bermuda Health Care Services Ltd on account of services provided or to be provided by him to Lahey Clinic Inc and Lahey Clinic Hospital Inc over the years 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

5- On or about May 11, 2007, being the holder of a public office as Premier of Bermuda, corruptly obtained a benefit, namely a donation of $50,000 from Global Hue Inc to the benefit of the Progressive Labour Party on account of the promotion of the interests of Global Hue Inc.

6- On or about July 2, 2007, being the holder of a public office as Premier of Bermuda, corruptly obtained a benefit, namely a donation of $12,500 from Eddie Benoit to the benefit of the Bermuda Health Foundation on account of the promotion of the interests of Ambling International Consulting Inc.

7- On or about March 4, 2008, being the holder of a public office as Premier of Bermuda, corruptly obtained a benefit, namely a donation of $75,000 from Global Hue Inc to the benefit of the Progressive Labour Party on account of the promotion of the interests of Global Hue Inc.

8- On or about March 6, 2008, being the holder of a public office as Premier of Bermuda, corruptly obtained a benefit, namely a donation of $16,000 from Rock Newman Promotions LLC to the benefit of the Progressive Labour Party or the Bermuda Health Foundation on account of the promotion of the interests of Rock Newman Promotions LLC.

9- On or about March 10, 2008, being the holder of a public office as Premier of Bermuda, corruptly obtained a benefit, namely a donation of $75,000 from Kerwin Communications Ltd to the benefit of the Progressive Labour Party on account of the promotion of the interests of James Kerwin and/or Rock Media.

10- On or about March 12, 2008, being the holder of a public office as Premier of Bermuda, corruptly obtained a benefit, namely a donation of $25,000 from Kurron Bermuda Ltd to the benefit of the Progressive Labour Party on account of the promotion of the interests of Kurron Bermuda Ltd.

11- Between July 1, 2008 and July 31, 2008, while the holder of public office as a Government Minister, corruptly asked and agreed to receive a benefit, namely fees to be paid in monthly instalments for himself and Bermuda Health Care Services Ltd on account of services provided or to be provided by him to Lahey Clinic Inc and Lahey Clinic Hospital Inc for the years 2008, 2009 and 2010.

12- On or about July 4, 2008, being the holder of a public office as Premier of Bermuda, corruptly obtained a benefit, namely a donation of $72,000 from Kurron Bermuda Ltd to the benefit of the Progressive Labour Party on account of the promotion of the interests of Kurron Bermuda Ltd.

13- On or about August 25, 2010, being the holder of a public office as Premier of Bermuda, corruptly obtained a benefit, namely a donation of $25,000 from Oxford Communications Ltd to the benefit of the Progressive Labour Party on account of the promotion of the interests of James Kerwin and/or Oxford Communications Ltd.

Lahey Clinic is a non-profit teaching hospital in Massachusetts.

Global Hue was an American advertising agency, founded by Don Coleman, which folded in 2016.

Ambling International Consulting was an Atlanta-based real estate advisory firm, founded by Mr Benoit.

Eugene “Rock” Newman is a concert promoter and local TV and radio host in Washington, DC.

Kerwin Communications is an advertising firm in New Jersey, run by Mr Kerwin, who also founded media company Oxford Communications.

Kurron is a healthcare management, consultancy and contracting firm, with offices in New York, Ohio, Tennessee, and Bermuda.

It is The Royal Gazette’s policy not to allow comments on stories regarding criminal court cases. This is to prevent any statements being published that may jeopardise the outcome of that case.