No appeal, no stay, judge says Courtenay must pay
In other political news, just in, the government’s information service has announced that Justice George Meerabux has refused the application of V.H. Courtenay and his law firm to stay the execution of a three point three four million dollar judgement against them by the Social Security Board. At the same time the judge also refused the Courtenay’s request for leave of appeal against his earlier judgement against them. What are the practical implications of the ruling? Technically it means that the defendants will now have to apply directly to the Court of Appeal, instead of through the Supreme Court. It also means that the Social Security Board is free to execute its judgement, and demand its money. Thinking in legal circles, however, is that what remains of professional courtesy will prevent any hasty action by the bailiff. V.H. Courtenay was acquitted of all criminal charges in the matter, which involved the purchase of shares in BECOL by the Social Security Board under Courtenay’s chairmanship. The present case is a civil suit which the defendant claims is motivated solely by politics and is based on a false affidavit presented to the court by the plaintiff.