Arthur Saldivar’s Political Career in Limbo Over Missing Money

Arthur Saldivar

Arthur Saldivar is known as a very vocal, very dramatic and flamboyant attorney as well as a political aspirant, but tonight both his careers may be in serious risk. He has been accused of making off with almost a million dollars from his client. Melonie Coye alleges that on June twelfth, after hours counting cash at the Central Bank, Saldivar walked away with a briefcase containing nine hundred and four thousand dollars and never looked back. Saldivar represented the Coyes in a money laundering case which he won when the Court of Appeal ordered the release of one point six million dollars. But now, Coye has retained the services of another attorney, Eamon Courtenay to get that money back. In the meantime, Saldivar is in serious trouble. News Five understands that as early as Monday, an action will be filed against him in court. And on the political front, the P.U.P. is taking those allegations very seriously. So seriously that today P.U.P. leader, Francis Fonseca, told us that Saldivar’s future with the Party is looking a little uncertain.

Francis Fonseca

Francis Fonseca, P.U.P. Leader

“I think the allegations made by the Coye family I consider to be serious allegations, damning allegations which if proven to be true would certainly in my view disqualify Arthur Saldivar from being a candidate for the People’s United Party in Belize Rural North in the upcoming elections. I understand that legal action has been or will be commenced against Mr. Saldivar by the Coye family to recover these monies which are alleged to be in his possession. That is my understanding. So the Party will obviously follow that legal process. But let me be very clear…abundantly clear, that we will not await the outcome of the legal case. We will look into this matter ourselves. We will look into it thoroughly. We will talk to all the relevant parties involved in this matter to get a clear idea of what took place, to get all the information possible, and once we have done so we will act deliberately and decisively. If it is found that Mr. Saldivar in any way or in any manner acted inconsistent with the standards which we are trying to put in place, the standards which I have for our standard bearers and representatives…if he has acted inconsistently with any of those standards we will definitely move decisively and deliberately to remove him.”

We note that Saldivar has denied the allegations, and has stated that he is considering bringing charges against Melonie Coye. He also maintains that Coye owes him one point six million dollars in legal fees.