Spies, Cameras Shadow Corporate Lawyer on Island Getaway
Spies, Cameras Shadow Corporate Lawyer on Island Getaway
(Bloomberg) -- Authorities at the St. Lucia airport were already on high alert in January when Jason Fielding landed on his way to a nearby private island in the Caribbean.
Fielding was a last-minute guest, raising concerns among officials, who interviewed him. A search of his bags found a pile of electronic equipment and a night-vision camera.
They also said they’re “greatly concerned’’ about the possibility that their computers were hacked.
Separately, ENRC says Gerrard and Dechert are conspiring to drum up their fees, meeting with the SFO in secret and leaking confidential material to the press as well. Last week, ENRC told the court that Gerrard had erased hand-written notes on a document he then gave to the SFO to disguise where it had come from. Gerrard and Dechert deny the allegations.
In his defense, Gerrard denies any wrongdoing and says ENRC are simply reacting badly to the “serious criminality,” including $40 million in cash it paid to a businessman and friend of Congo’s then-president.
ENRC denies any wrongdoing. A spokesperson said Gerrard’s filing was ``a tactical move aimed to distract from his own wrongdoings. ENRC has raised serious concerns relating to Mr Gerrard’s conduct, and we will resist any attempt by him to impede our lawful prosecution of those substantive claims.”
The SFO declined to comment on the case, as did a lawyer for Gerrard. Diligence and its lawyer didn't respond to requests for comment on Gerrard's allegations and Fielding's actions. His personal contact information wasn't otherwise available.
``Dechert deplores the surveillance activities by Diligence and ENRC against one of our partners and his wife, and we are fully supportive of the legal action they are taking to prevent such unlawful behavior taking place in the future,” the law firm said Friday in an email.
Covert Activity
Gerrard alleges that Diligence started its surveillance of him by trying to install a wireless camera on his property. It then opted for a wired video camera system capable of recording the make, model and color of vehicles, as well as their registration number and the facial characteristics of the driver, according to the documents. They built a hide for a wireless cellular device and covered it with chicken wire and foliage, he said.
The men tried to get onto the island, telling authorities they were the couple’s nephews. They made a mistake, though, and referred to them by their first names David and Elizabeth, though both coincidentally go by the middle names, Neil and Ann, the pair said. Gerrard’s daughter blew their cover and they were denied entry.
They may have escaped detection, but, according to the Gerrards, the physically fit plain-clothed men walked past 10 to 15 empty tables and sat next to Gerrard’s table, constantly using a laptop and mobile phone while he ate with his friend. When, suspicious, Gerrard asked the restaurant manager about the men, he replied that he didn’t know them, but that they were “very interested” in Gerrard.
On Friday, the London judge ordered ENRC and Diligence not to put the Gerrards under surveillance or for any of their workers to come within 10 meters of a place whether either of them are until the lawsuit is concluded.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Chris Elser at celser@bloomberg.net
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