Bradley Paumen Back in Court for Preliminary Inquiry

American businessman Bradley Paumen, owner of Dark Knight Cave Tours, was back in court today.  Paumen is another person with high connections in government circles; so much so that he was able to obtain land belonging to another businessman with government’s blessing. He, along with several others, including Lisburn Anderson and Ian Skeen, appeared in the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court after meeting bail in February.  Paumen is accused of hiring a hit man to execute Iranian/American entrepreneur Michael Modiri during a land dispute.  A parcel of land belonging to Modiri is at the heart of the controversy, since the location of the property blocks Paumen’s access to his parcel.  Paumen was indicted on four counts of abetment to murder and is free on a fifty thousand dollar bond.  Attorney Dickie Bradley represents Lisburn Anderson, who is accused of having delivered the payment to the supposed hit man.  He provided an update of what transpired in court today.

Richard ‘Dickie’ Bradley

Richard ‘Dickie’ Bradley, Attorney for Lisburn Anderson

“Those matters came up today in front of the Chief Magistrate here in Belmopan in relation to a preliminary inquiry. In the case of Mister Anderson, his instructions was that he would want the matter to reach the Supreme Court at the earliest and therefore there is no need to make any challenges or any submissions. In relation to Miss Park who lives in the U.S.A. has been experiencing difficulties in relation to the conditions of the bail which requires constantly signing in at the police station. Likewise, she would want in fact that trail takes place early so that in fact she is exonerated and can continue to go about her business. Now, although the PI, the preliminary inquiry as to whether or not this matter has some information to be tried in the Supreme Court of Belize, the situation is that in relation to Miss Park she is entirely separated from the allegations against the other parties. She is joined in the charge with Mister Abadi in that they are alleged to have had some conversation with a police officer. And our view is that in fact that charge will not hold up in relation to Miss Park. And in fairness to her, it really should be withdrawn; there is literally nothing…she just happened to be in the vicinity where the police officer is claiming that he got some money to carry out a hit—a police officer mind you. So that matter, the Chief Magistrate has ruled that if there is no challenge then certainly there is no problem with sending the matter up in relation to those matters. That now goes to the October session of the Belmopan Supreme Court.”

The matter resumes in the Supreme Court in October.