Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Danhai Williams approaches the Supreme Court in 2003 to answer fraud charges brought against him in the NHDC Operation PRIDE scandal. - File

IF DANHAI Williams ever decides to throw in the towel as a contractor and make a career change, he should consider following the path of Harry Houdini, the fabled illusionist regarded as the world's greatest escape artiste.

Unlike Houdini, the 51-year-old Williams has never wriggled from handcuffs or sealed cages. But he certainly has a knack for beating the courts.

The latest in his line of 'escapes' came on April 28 in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court where all charges against him and six other persons, for allegedly defrauding the National Housing Development Corporation (NHDC) of $451 million, were dropped.

Walked free

Williams walked free after two Crown witnesses failed to show, bringing the curtains down on a trial which began in October 2005. Williams had been charged with 87 counts of fraud two years earlier.

Williams seemed to revel in court appearances. His flamboyant outfits were complemented by flashy SUVs and the presence of his girlfriend, former Dancehall Queen Carlene Smith.

His lawyer, Valerie Neita-Robertson, described Williams as a hard worker and cool customer.

"He's always smiling, he always looks on the bright side of life," she said.

Professionally, Williams is listed as a director of Danwill Construction Limited, but he is best known by his unofficial title of 'PNP activist'. That's how then Opposition finance spokesperson Audley Shaw referred to him in November 2000 when he raised the issue of contracts awarded by the PNP Government to build low-income homes under its Operation PRIDE programme.

The NHDC affair smacked of cronyism; it got strong media play and forced the resignation of the then Housing Minister Karl Blythe. But, it certainly was not the most sensational court drama Williams was involved in. That came during the trial of six policemen involved in the deaths of four people at a house in Kraal, Clarendon, in May 2003.

The prosecution said that Williams told the police in July 2003 that he had arranged for Senior Superintendent of Police Reneto Adams to get a gun, which the prosecution claimed Adams had planted at the crime scene.

Adams had led the police party to Kraal.

Despite being called to testify, Williams never appeared at the trial. His lawyer said his client would be forced to lie if he had testified.

Privilege

Kent Pantry, who was then director of public prosecutions, said his office had given Williams immunity to testify. His failure to appear in court, Pantry explained, meant that privilege had lapsed.

The policemen were acquitted of murder charges in December 2005.

As the Kraal trial wound down, Williams was being sought by police for another no-show. The Rollington Town police said he breached terms of his $10-million bail in the NHDC case by not reporting to them twice weekly. He was fined $200,000 for that indiscretion.

Williams was in the news again in November 2006 when he and three men were arrested and jailed by police for allegedly inciting violence throughout the east Kingston community of Rockfort.

They were freed without being charged after four days in custody.

Ironically, Moby Dick Restaurant in downtown Kingston has succeeded where the police and government have failed - that is, beat Danhai Williams in court.

In March 2005, the Supreme Court ruled that Danwill Construction Limited should pay the popular eatery $1.3 million plus interest for failing to fork over funds owed for food and refreshments it provided at the opening of an Operation PRIDE scheme at Riverton Mews in November 2001.

howard.campbell@gleanerjm.com

Williams was, in fact, never fined $200,000 for any indiscretion but was offered bail in the sum of $200,000 when a warrant of arrest for breach of the terms and conditions of his bail came up for hearing in December 2005. We unconditionally withdraw any suggestion or implication that Williams was ever convicted and fined for breach of the terms and conditions of his bail. We regret the error and any inconvenience caused.