Former Cayman Premier Released on Bail as Corruption Probe Expands Abroad

Above: former Cayman Islands Premier McKeeva Bush

By Alexander Britell

Former Cayman Islands Premier McKeeva Bush, who was arrested on allegations of corruption in December, has been released on bail for a second time as Cayman police expand their corruption probe abroad.

Bush had first been put on bail in December 2012; after complying with the conditions of his bail and presenting himself to the police, he has re-bailed until late March, according to a statement from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service.

Bush was bailed along with another, unnamed local man who is also part of the investigation.

“The investigation is still very active and police are following several positive lines of enquiry,” the RCIPS said. “The re-bailing of the suspects is to allow further investigations to take place in a number of foreign jurisdictions including locations in Europe, the United States and in Asia.”

Bush resigned as Premier in mid-December, replaced by Juliana O’Connor-Connolly.

The police service said officers were working “very closely with law enforcement colleagues overseas and the investigation is being progressed as expeditiously as possible.”

It said that the team was required to follow “the stringent, and often lengthy legal processes in place within these overseas jurisdictions to obtain the necessary evidential exhibits and supporting statements.”

“As the investigation is still active it would be inappropriate to make any further comment at this time,” the service said.