Fomer minister, Joe Coye, loses case against businessman

Jose Coye

The case of former government minister Joe Coye versus Alfred Shackron came to an end today and it did not go well for Coye who has now lost the charges he brought against Shackron. The case goes back to April 2008 when Coye was first charged with obtaining property by deception and theft. Through his attorneys Elson Kaseke and Anthony Sylvestre, Coye accused Shackron of malicious prosecution and sought damages for defamation to his character. He claimed that Shackron had maliciously prosecuted him in the Putt-Putt Bar case after, which was dismissed in January 2009. Shackron’s attorneys Rodwell Williams and Michel Chebat had previously applied to have the defamation portion of the case struck out and Justice Michelle Arana later ruled in favor of Shakron. The worst blow to Coye came today before Justice Oswell Legall in the Supreme Court.  According to Chebat, not only did Justice Legall find Shackron to be a more credible witness, he believed that he was telling the truth when he said that he gave Coye two hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars for the purchase of the prime parcel of land on which the Putt Putt Bar was located.

Michel Chebat, Attorney for Alfred Shackron

“The only portion that actually remained was the malicious prosecution which was subsequently heard by Justice Legall.  And in that matter the main thrust of that case, as I said earlier, was that Alfred Shackron by his own volition, instituted the prosecution and actively got the police to prosecute Jose Coye over the Putt-Putt Bar incident.

Michel Chebat

It was—we anticipated these results for several reasons and I think these are borne out in the judgment of the court. One, it was a matter for the judge to decide whether he believed Jose Coye or whether he believed Alfred Shackron, as they were the only two witnesses called. The judge felt that on a balance of probabilities, that Alfred Shackron was the more credible witness and he told the truth when he said he had given Jose Coye two hundred and seventy five thousand dollars for the purchase of the Putt-Putt property and it was based on that finding that the case for malicious prosecution was dismissed.”

Jose Sanchez

“By saying then that he believed you client, Mister Shackron, over Joe Coye, would that then mean that Mister Joe Coye may have not been truthful?”

Michel Chebat

“I don’t want to venture down that path, I would rather say that based on his demeanor and based on the way he responded in court, that the judge made a finding as to who was more credible. I would prefer to leave it at that.”

Jose Sanchez

Is this the end for Mister Shackron vs. Mister Joe Coye or should we see Mister Shackron come with a following suit?”

Michel Chebat

“I cannot say at this moment. I know for a fact and I can say it that mister Shackron has never been interested in prosecuting Mister Coye and so that I know he had been interested in seeing this matter come to an end a long time ago. And so I don’t believe that he would want to push this matter any further.”

After the ruling, Coye said he was disappointed and is contemplating an appeal.