By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A ‘WHISTLEBLOWER’ has alleged that Peter Nygard, the Canadian fashion mogul, intervened to secure the release of his camera equipment, which had been seized by Bahamas Customs, even though he had neither paid due taxes nor possessed a valid work permit.

Stephen Feralio claimed he was informed that Mr Nygard “had cleared everything up” when he returned to the airport and was presented with his camera equipment. Mr Feralio possesses more than 1,000 hours of Nygard-related video footage to which Louis Bacon, and the Save The Bays/Coalition to Protect Clifton environmental activist groups, want to obtain access via subpoenas they are seeking from the New York courts.

They believe it could provide evidence for seven cases currently before the Supreme Court, including five defamation actions by Mr Bacon, and the two Judicial Review proceedings launched by Save the Bays/the Coalition over construction/development work at Nygard Cay.

Mr Nygard and his companies, though, are arguing that it should be the Bahamian Supreme Court - not the New York courts - which decides on whether Feralio and his evidence are admissible in the seven actions.

Mr Feralio, though, alleged last week that he had “no intention” of returning to the Bahamas to testify, saying he feared “arrest or assault”, and that the Bahamian government authorities might “confiscate” his evidence.