Judge rejects DPP’s application

Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey this morning refused an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewelyn to amend the section of the Corruption Prevention Act under which Coleen Wright is charged.



Wright is charged with corruption and money laundering arising out of her role in the implementation of the controversial Cuban energy saving light bulb programme.



This morning Resident Magistrate Pusey said the change would deprive the accused of a defence.



The DPP wanted to amend the charge to make Wright an aide and abettor to corruption rather than a principal of the act.



However Wright’s attorney, KD Knight, objected to the change.



He said that the prosecution was attempting to amend the charges because the evidence has not confirmed Wright to be a public servant.



He said he’s confident that the crown has no case of corruption against Wright based on the evidence obtained from former energy minister Phillip Paulwell and former co-accused Rodney Chin.



The DPP has said that the Crown will renew the application at a later date.



Spencer and Wright are on corruption and money laundering charges in connection with the Cuban lightbulb case.



Spencer is on nine charges and Wright six.



They are accused of colluding to set up companies to benefit from contracts under the light bulb programme using Chin as a front.