Bahamians Rohn Knowles and Kelvin Leach have become infamous both locally and abroad for the allegation by the US Government that they participated with 4 others in a securities fraud scheme which defrauded the Federal Government of 1 billion Belize dollars. Well tonight, both men are closer to getting cleared of charges brought against them locally.
Viewers may remember that they were detained by Belizean authorities initially on failing to declare funds over 20,000 Belize dollars when they tried to leave the country. That was believed to have been a holding charge, and the case against them for that offence continued today in the Magistrate's Court.
The case is being prosecuted by the Financial Intelligence Unit, which is being represented by attorney Christelle Wilson. She called one of the officers who picked up both men from the PGIA, and he was supposed to have testified to the money which he confiscated from the men. The envelope that he was handling as evidence was labelled as containing $6,300 US dollars and 11 dollars in Belizean Currency. That's what he testified to in open court, but when the envelope was opened, the 11 dollars Belize wasn't inside it.
That compromised the evidence against Kelvin Leach, and Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer refused to accept into evidence. It's a significant turn in the case because that's the main evidence against Leach. So, Christelle Wilson asked for an adjournment which was granted until January 6. This means that both men are closer to getting that criminal charge against them thrown out.
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