Belize - Judicial review on former PM's theft trial ruling
March 13, 2009
Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh has agreed to a judicial review of last February's decision by Magistrate Earl Jones which commits former Prime Minister Said Musa to stand trial on a charge of theft.
The charge stems from a directive he gave while he was prime minister for the use of a US$10 million grant from the government of Venezuela that was intended for the construction and repair of houses for poor Belizeans.
The matter has ended up before the law courts even though the monies have since been transferred back to the Government's coffers by the Belize Bank which had received the funds to settle a debt owed by a private health institution - Universal Health Services.
Lawyers for Musa have argued that Magistrate Jones erred on February 10 in arriving at his decision and that he had taken into consideration inadmissible evidence.
Wrongly assumed jurisdiction
Musa's attorneys further contended that the magistrate wrongly assumed jurisdiction in the case and that his decision was both irrational and unreasonable since he did not commit former government minister Ralph Fonseca, who was facing the exact same charge, to stand trial....
Author: Gleaner Reporter
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
