A judicial ruling in the Turks and Caicos Islands has resulted in a prison term of four years and 26 days for Michael Misick, the territory’s former premier, following his conviction in a major corruption case that spanned several years.
Authorities took Misick into custody in Brazil during December 2012 after Brazilian officials denied his request for political asylum. The charges against him included corruption, misappropriating public funds, and gaining personal profit from selling government property to development companies.
Friday’s sentencing decision imposed the four-year, 26-day prison term on Misick. Earlier in February, a court found him guilty on three bribery charges. Misick has maintained that the accusations were politically motivated.
The same court proceeding on Friday also resulted in prison sentences for former Cabinet minister McAllister Hanchell and attorney Thomas Misick, who is Michael Misick’s brother. Hanchell received a three-year sentence while Thomas Misick was given four years. Authorities placed all three men in custody, and they plan to challenge their sentences through appeals.
Michael Misick resigned from his premier position in 2009, not long after British authorities assumed temporary control of the territory’s administration and halted its constitution due to widespread corruption allegations. Direct British oversight concluded in November 2012 when the territory conducted new elections.
