Last night we broke the story about attorney Arthur Saldivar - and the sensational claim from his former client Melonie Coye: she's saying that Saldivar made off with nine hundred and four thousand dollars of the 1.6 million dollars she recovered from the Central Bank.
The history of that money should be well known to those who follow the news: that's the money that was found in the suitcases in the Coye family home in December 2008. It was confiscated by police as the proceeds of money laundering and tied up by the FIU for the duration of the money laundering trial and its appeal. When Saldivar won the appeal, the court ruled that the Coye's could get back the money - but even then a Panamanian company stepped in and try to claim some of it.
Finally, though on June 12th Melonie Coye and her attorney Arthur Saldivar went back to the Central Bank to reclaim it. She claims that they put the money in two suitcases - since it was all in cash; he allegedly took nine hundred thousand in one suitcase, while she took seven hundred thousand in another. They left the bank at 8:32 pm, and the report we have gotten is that she expected that they would meet up for her to get back the balance that he carried, but he never showed.
50 days later on July thirtieth, she hired another lawyer, Eamon Courtenay to write him and demand that he return the money.
Sounds pretty damning, right? Well, not to Arthur Saldivar. Today he came to our studio and told Jules Vasquez, basically, "which nine hundred thousand dollars?"
Arthur Saldivar. Former Attorney - Melonie Coye
"The money was signed over to her, and the money was taken by her out of the Central Bank. We came together, we left together. We came in separate vehicles we left in separate vehicles. This allegation that is being made is baseless. I certainly, certainly did not go with any money from Melonie Coye."
Jules Vasquez
"The specific allegation is that you left the Central Bank at 8:32 pm, with a suitcase filled with nine hundred and four thousand. Did you leave with over nine hundred thousand and not report it?"
Arthur Saldivar
"I did not."
Jules Vasquez
"You did not leave Central Bank with a suitcase full with nine hundred plus thousand dollars?"
Arthur Saldivar
"No."
Jules Vasquez
"So that is a completely fraudulent allegation?"
Arthur Saldivar
"Yes."
Jules Vasquez
"So the she has that money?"
Arthur Saldivar
"Of course."
Jules Vasquez
"So you do not have any of her money?"
Arthur Saldivar
"No."
Jules Vasquez
"Does she owe you fees?"
Arthur Saldivar
"Yes."
Jules Vasquez
"How much?"
Arthur Saldivar
"She owe me 25% of the total sum of what was the case, what it entailed 6.5 million. Do the math."
Jules Vasquez
"Twenty five percent of 6.5 million is one quarter which is about 1.8 million."
Arthur Saldivar
"There about."
Jules Vasquez
"So then it wouldn't be completely unjustified, if that is agreed to, it can be interpreted as "mek a whole half" you owe me twice this. Might that have happened?"
Arthur Saldivar
"It didn't happen, but yes it would be justified, wouldn't it?"
Jules Vasquez
"25% seems a little steep…I don't know how lawyers charge, but…"
Arthur Saldivar
"No man that's the prescribed cost, ahm, cases at the court of appeal cost more than cases at the Supreme Court. And, ah, as you are well aware this was one of the simplest of cases, it was a very complex case."
Jules Vasquez
"Mr. Courtenay has indicated that he intends to file suit against you. I assume you did not return the money on August 1st, since you claim to have no money."
Arthur Saldivar
"What money? What do I have to return? My bank account...."
Jules Vasquez
"So then you are accusing Ms. Melonie of constructing an entire fiction?"
Arthur Saldivar
"Would that be unheard of for somebody to do when these kinds of monies are at stake? If I did it, I would own up to it. I didn't do it. One life to live brother, big shoulders, bare chest, no vest." (frowns)
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