The preliminary inquiry into the money laundering case against the Coye family went to court today. But it didn’t begin because this morning presiding Magistrate Dorothy Flowers recused herself from the case. That was based on a submission from the Coye family’s attorney Arthur Saldivar. So now Magistrate Kathleen Lewis in court room number 3 will hear the case. So what does this have to do with the money laundering case against the family? Well according to both Saldivar and the Financial Intelligence Unit’s Special Prosecutor Antonette Moore – not much. And “not much” is what Saldivar thinks of the FIU’s case against his clients.
Arthur Saldivar, Attorney for Coye Family
“Acting on the instructions of our client, we made a submission and the substance of that submission Keith as it was made in chambers, will not be the subject of public discourse. As a result of that, the effect of the submission is the actual transferance of the case from one court to the next.”
Keith Swift,
“What does that mean for your clients?”
Arthur Saldivar,
“It means nothing really, except that the court is going to be hearing the matter on Friday the 9th of October.”
Antoinette Moore, Attorney for FIU
“Magistrate Flowers determined that she was going to no longer handle the case and she transferred it and I don’t know the reason.”
Keith Swift,
“What are the implications of this?”
Antoinette Moore,
“None whatsoever. We are moving forward, we are fully prepared to go to preliminary inquiry on the 9th of October and we are very confident in our case.”
Arthur Saldivar,
“From the disclosure given I don’t see where the offenses that were alleged to have been committed by them actually occurred. That is always something for the court to decide.”
Antoinette Moore,
“We have over 60 witness statements that have been given to the police that support the prosecution of this case. So I am totally flabbergasted to hear that anyone would say there is only one witness in this matter.”
Keith Swift,
“So you are sure you are ready to go to trial?”
Antoinette Moore,
“We are completely ready for the PI and then for the trial afterwards assuming that there is commitment and we don’t see why there would not be a committal to the Supreme Court.”
Keith Swift,
“The Special Prosecutor Antonette Moore told us this morning that there are over more than 60 witness statements.”
Arthur Saldivar,
“All power to her.”
Keith Swift,
“That sounds like a strong case.”
Arthur Saldivar,
“If that is so maybe. Who knows. My thing about it is simply this Keith, not to be coy but there is an allegation made of certain things being done. At the end of the day the disclosure that was brought reveals not much.”
So the preliminary inquiry is scheduled to start on October 9th.
