Team Herald
PANJIM: The Special Court under the Prevention of Corruption Act will on Tuesday hear an application by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking to transfer the hearing on the Louis Berger case to the court constituted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Mapusa.
ED’s application concerns the hearing in which Crime Branch (CB) had in September 2015 filed a chargesheet against former PWD Minister Churchill Alemao, former project director Anand Wachansudar, former Louis Berger India vice president Satyakam Mohanty, alleged hawala operator Raichand Soni, former Louis Berger executive James McClung, former Margao Muncipal Council chairperson Arthur D’Silva and Louis Berger International Inc under the Prevention of Corruption Act and criminal conspiracy besides other offences. A supplementary chargesheet against former chief minister Digambar Kamat was filed a year later in October 2016.
The ED after completing their investigation into the matter, had filed a complaint against Kamat and Alemao under Section 4 of the PMLA, 2002. The Mapusa court, about two months ago, had summoned both to appear in person for deposition.
“The transfer of the case is essentially because ED wants that the Mapusa court hears both cases, probed by CB and ED, as it pertains to money laundering,” said a source. CB, it is expected not to object to the transfer of the hearing. ED had attached properties worth Rs 1.95 crore belonging to Kamat and Alemao.
The Special Court will on September 28 hear the proclamation issued on one of the main accused McClung. The Court had issued a proclamation seeking his appearance before it on September 17.
