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DFC Drags Novelo Brothers into Court
posted (October 31, 2008)

They’ve been pegged as the hard pay stars of the century but tonight the Novelo brothers insist they can pay the millions they owe the Development Finance Corporation and are going to sue their creditors to prove it.

The embattled businessmen made that bold statement today after both Tony and David appeared before the Supreme Court Registrar Aldo Salazar to swear under oath that all their assets and property have either been seized or are on mortgage to the local banks. As Tony put it, and we quote, “I am a broke man...I have lost everything...the banks have taken everything...I’m lucky I have this shirt on my back.”

David told a similar story, claiming that his current salary is tied up repaying loans in his own name to the Belize Bank and Scotia Bank. But while both men say he cannot satisfy the debt personally, they insist that if the receivership of Kevin Castillo, who was jointly appointed by the DFC the Atlantic Bank, were probed and a financial accounting of their former company were produced, they’d have money to collect and would then be in a position to repay what they owe. That’s because according to them, when receiver took over there were approximately eighty properties in collateral, which along with other assets, amounted to ninety-eight million dollars in surety.

But those claims did not persuade the DFC’s attorney Michel Chebat in the least. In February, he secured a default judgement to go after the personal assets of the Novelo men for twenty-four million dollars. Disregarding Tony and David’s calls for an investigation, Chebat proceeded to assess the personal financial standing of each man to determine their ability to repay that sum.

During the examinations of the brothers, Chebat asked about shares in new companies that he says have been transferred to other family members; the existence of bank accounts in Mexico; and about property in Belize which may be freehold title. Both Novelo brothers disputed those suggestions and outside the courtroom told 7NEWS that in addition to filing an application to set aside the default judgement against them, they also intend to sue the DFC and the Atlantic Bank to force them to produce an accounting of the current financial state of their former company.

The DFC’s examination of the men has been adjourned until December fifth when Hipolito Novelo, Tony and David’s father, will have to answer Chebat’s questions about his financial and property affairs.

The Novelo’s are represented by Dr. Elson Kaseke.

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