Lambirds CEO Iftekhar Ahmed Shams.
Attorney-at-Law Marcus Foster who is representing Lambirds Academy Chief Executive Officer Dr Iftekhar Shams said that the court will decide on June 15, whether his client receives bail or not.
Shams who made a court appearance today (June 1) faces several charges with regards to the alleged scam. He was charged on 60 counts of money laundering. He is also facing human trafficking charges.
His attorney told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that between Tuesday (May 26) to Friday (May 29), the Lambirds CEO was slapped with each individual charge, based on the allegations made by the 60 plus students.
Foster said the magistrate heard the prosecution’s objection to bail case this morning on the basis that he is a flight risk and that the students being kept here might want to get some vigilante justice.
However his argument was that there is no evidence of that nature and no threat has ever been issued to Shams.
The magistrate then decided that he is not going to rule on whether Shams will get bail on the rest of these charges, but that he will deal with formal bail hearing on June 15.
Asked whether he feels confident that his client could secure bail, Foster responded in the affirmative.
He noted however that the system is usually slow, describing the entire situation as “pulling teeth.” The attorney also complained that it has been difficult to get hearings and resolutions on the matter.
Attorney-at-Law Marcus Foster.
“We want to get to trial. Dr Shams wants to have his day in court. And I think the public would like to really see the matter unfold properly before the courts and not on various talk shows,” he said.
Foster said he still has some reservations the matter being heard at the District Court Office, instead of the normal court room settings.
Shams, who suffers from diabetes and hypertension, was hospitalised several times for collapsing in prison.
He along with three other men are accused of using Lambirds Academy as a front to traffic persons from Nepal, The Phillipines, India and other Asian countries, promising them jobs in the US after completion of studies in hospitality management.
Over 70 suspected students were left stranded by the scandal.
Some have returned home, but the majority are still in St. Lucia.