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Accused of Making Off With Melonie’s Money, Saldivar Settles With Coye
Thu, January 29, 2015
His political career and personal integrity was placed in jeopardy, but tonight embattled attorney and politician, Arthur Saldivar is in the clear after his former client Melonie Coye stopped pressing a civil case against him. The claim was that he pocketed a little over 900 thousand dollars of her family's money, after it was returned by the Financial Intelligence Unit.

Viewers may remember this was money which the Court of Appeal ordered the FIU to return to the Coyes after they successfully appealed their money laundering conviction.

This allegation formed the basis by which the People's United Party dismissed Saldivar as Standard Bearer for Belize Rural North. And as we told you at the end of November when the case went to court, it took a very strange and unexplained twist.

Melonie Coye's attorneys filed the claim on her behalf and provided supporting documents and affidavits. This was more than enough for the Supreme Court to require Saldivar to make an adequate defence. That didn't happen and so Justice Shona Griffith ruled against Saldivar in default, and by effect, that vindicated Coye's position.

But here's where the case took an unexpected turn, Coye's attorneys went back to the court and applied to have that judgment be vacated, and the case went from being resolved in their favor to being live once again. The unanswered question at the time was, why would Coye do that? Keep in mind that almost a million dollars were on the line, and she had just won the case.

Once again at today's adjournment, Coye's attorneys very promptly applied for a discontinuance of the claim before Justice Griffith, taking full advantage of the privacy, and the lack of media presence at case management conference.

When Saldivar's attorney, Hubert Elrington, exited court today, he obliged us with an interview and said that the case had been settled out of court with a non-disclosure agreement:

Daniel Ortiz
"Can you give us an update as to how far the case between Melonie Coye and Arthur Saldivar has progressed after today's adjournment?"

Hubert Elrington, SC - Attorney for Arthur Saldivar
"Yes. It's finished."

Daniel Ortiz
"Can you tell us what has happened?"

Hubert Elrington, SC - Attorney for Arthur Saldivar
"The parties have kiss and made up."

Daniel Ortiz
"Does that include monies being returned..?"

Hubert Elrington, SC - Attorney for Arthur Saldivar
"All I can say is that they are on good a term as they ever been."

Reporter
"That would be like prior to the legal rang-lings...?"

Hubert Elrington, SC - Attorney for Arthur Saldivar
"I don't know there were legal rang-lings. I supposed once they understood the nature of the claim and the position that both parties were in, the sensible thing was use their legal skills to settle the matter."

Daniel Ortiz
"Is there some sort of non-disclosure agreement reached today as well?"

Hubert Elrington, SC - Attorney for Arthur Saldivar
"That is what my understanding is. I don't even know what the agreement is."

Daniel Ortiz
"Are you able to tell us if Mr. Arthur Saldivar owes the Coye family anything?"

Hubert Elrington, SC - Attorney for Arthur Saldivar
"Nothing. After the settlement, nothing. That's what I understand. I haven't seen the settlement. Nobody had told me what the contents of the settlement is. The matter is the court has been told and the discontinuance order has been filed, which says that the matter is over. Amen."

Daniel Ortiz
"Can you tell us, does Mr. Saldivar have any money?"

Hubert Elrington, SC - Attorney for Arthur Saldivar
"I can't tell you anything, except that the thing is over. Over means over."

But there are gaping holes in the story. Where is the 904 thousand dollars? Did Saldivar take it as Coye claims? If yes, has it been returned, or is he being allowed to keep all or a portion of it as part of the settlement? We tried to get comment from Melonie Coye today as she exited the court room, but she told us that she was not allowed to.

So, where does this leave Arthur Saldivar? Well, we contacted him today, and he told us that he is out of the City.

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