Politician in Tory donor bribery case found dead at home in 'brutal' stabbing

Asot Michael, the Antiguan politician at the centre of an alleged case of bribery by Tory donor Peter Virdee, was found dead after what his family described as a "brutal and senseless" act of violence

A Caribbean politician who a British Tory donor is accused of having bribed has been found stabbed to death at his home.

British detectives are set to liaise with police in Antigua, who have launched a murder probe after the body of former Government minister Asot Michael was discovered by his maid in a pool of blood.

Peter Virdee, also known as Hardip Singh, was charged earlier this year with bribing a foreign public official, following a National Crime Agency investigation.

It was alleged that between January 2015 and July 2017 Virdee bribed Asot Michael, an Antigua and Barbuda MP and the country’s Energy Minister, to benefit his company PV Energy Ltd. Virdee was a director of PV Energy Ltd, which was charged at the same time with failing to prevent bribery in relation to the same offences.

Mr Michael was killed in "a brutal and senseless act of violence" in his home, according to a statement from his family. There is no suggestion that Virdee was involved. Police said in a statement that a suspect had been identified but did not identify the individual.

Antigua Police Commissioner Atlee Patrick Rodney told reporters: “It is one of those sad occasions we have to address as investigators…we had the call early this morning that he was found unresponsive, we responded quickly and as the doctor has just confirmed he has passed away.

“There are some injuries on the body which now opens up a homicide investigation as the circumstances that led to the injuries. We do not know what happened, but we are going to use all the resources that we have locally, regionally and internationally.

“I will be speaking with my regional partners, I will be speaking with my international partners and whatever resources we need we will use everything to address such a serious crime.”

Mr Michael, 54, was dismissed as a Minister of Tourism, Economic Development Investment and Energy for Antigua and Barbuda in 2017 after he was arrested at Heathrow Airport by NCA officers investigating bribery allegations.

But the NCA took no further action against Mr Michael and he was elected as an independent MP to the country’s parliament last year.

UK businessman Peter Virdee, 51, donated nearly £100,000 to the Conservative Party through one of his companies and was invited as a member of the "Leaders Group" of the biggest donors party to a meal with Government ministers, including then Prime Minister David Cameron. He also donated £2,000 to Labour MP Preet Gill.

Virdee’s social media features a series of photos of him meeting the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, athlete Usain Bolt, singer Rihanna and actors Al Pacino and Mickey Rourke.