Sandals Resorts Said to Pay $12 Million to Turks & Caicos as Part of Agreement

Sandals Resort International will pay $12 million to the Turks & Caicos following an agreement with the government and British prosecutors investigating corruption allegations in the Caribbean nation, according to multiple press reports. A Sandals spokesperson declined to comment on the report when reached Thursday.

The agreement was the result of the “extraordinary and unique involvement of U.S. authorities who voluntarily released evidence,” according to a statement from Turks & Caicos prosecutors quoted in reports. The agreement is not an admission of liability on Sandals’ part, according to the statement, and does not prevent the prosecution of company officials in relation to the current criminal investigation.

To date, 13 Turks & Caicos developers and former government ministers have been indicted on corruption charges linked to the island’s former premier, Michael Misick, who is currently in custody in Brazil following his December arrest there on an international warrant.

A one-time senior Sandals employee has been linked to transactions involving former Turks & Caicos officials who are currently under investigation, according to the reports. In addition, a Sandals lawyer has been quoted as saying the company was voluntarily cooperating with the investigation.

Source: Travel Pulse, http://www.travelpulse.com/sandals-resorts-said-to-pay-12-million-to-turks-caicos-as-part-of-agreement.html