Posted: Monday, January 20, 2025. 7:21 am CST.
By Horace Palacio: The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Belize’s highest court, has dismissed an application for special leave to appeal in a longstanding case of misrepresentation and fraudulent conveyance of property. The CCJ also rejected a request to stay the execution of the judgment upheld by Belize’s Court of Appeal.
The case revolves around a 120-acre parcel of land in Serango Bight, Stann Creek District, originally owned by George Dueck. The late Thomas Pound, a U.S. real estate broker and Christian missionary, had advised Dueck to transfer the property to him to facilitate tourism development and attract potential buyers. However, Pound later transferred the land to a Belizean company he established, Kingdom First Ministries International (KFMI).
In 2014, Belize’s High Court found Pound liable for misrepresentation and fraudulent conveyance of property. The Court of Appeal upheld this ruling in April 2024 but reduced the damages awarded to Dueck.
Representatives of Pound’s estate, Kyle and Darin Pound, and KFMI sought to appeal the decision to the CCJ. However, the applicants failed to meet the Court of Appeal’s 42-day deadline for seeking leave to appeal, as required under the CCJ’s Appellate Jurisdiction Rules.
The CCJ noted that instead of following proper procedures, the applicants made a late request to the Court of Appeal, which was denied due to lack of jurisdiction to extend the time. The applicants then sought special leave from the CCJ within 21 days of that refusal, a move the CCJ deemed an abuse of process.
Additionally, the CCJ evaluated the grounds for appeal and found they lacked a realistic chance of success. As a result, the court dismissed the application and refused to stay the execution of the judgment.
The CCJ’s decision concludes a protracted legal battle, emphasizing adherence to procedural rules and the limited chances for redress when those rules are ignored.
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The post Caribbean Court of Justice dismisses appeal in Belize land fraud case appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Belize’s highest court, has dismissed an application for special leave to appeal in a longstanding case of misrepresentation and fraudulent conveyance of property. The CCJ also rejected a request to stay the execution of the judgment upheld by Belize’s Court of Appeal.
The post Caribbean Court of Justice dismisses appeal in Belize land fraud case appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
