Above: former Turks and Caicos Premier Michael Misick
By Alexander Britell
Former Turks and Caicos Premier Michael Misick has been released from prison in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on bail, the Turks and Caicos government said Friday.
The Brazilian Supreme Court has released Misick on bail, the Governor’s office said in a statement.
On Thursday, TCI Attorney General Huw Shepheard said that a report on Radio Turks and Caicos Breakfast News that Misick had been released was” incorrect.”
“We understand that the Brazilian Supreme Court has granted him bail,” the Governor’s office said. “This does not mean that the legal process is exhausted.”
Over the last few weeks, Misick has communicated from prison that he wished to return voluntarily to Turks and Caicos, and that he is being held illegally in Brazil. The government has said the matter is for the Brazilian authorities.
In a statement Thursday, Shepheard said he had been informed that Misick had had the opportunity to apply for bail and was refused.
The former Premier was arrested by Brazilian Federal Police in December at the airport in Rio on a provisional arrest warrant.
His arrest was sought in connection with the findings of Sir Robin Auld’s 2008-2009 Commission of Inquiry, which reported evidence of widespread corruption in the territory.
That led to the suspension of democratic government by the United Kingdom. The TCI eventually held elections once again in November 2012.
A formal extradition request was officially lodged with Brazilian authorities last week.