Justice bows out and laundering case hops to third courtroom
But in the local courts, the money laundering case of the Coye Family was adjourned today. The case has had some unusual twists so far. First it was heard in court number one before Chief Magistrate Margaret McKenzie, then it moved onto court number two before senior Magistrate Dorothy Flowers. But today Magistrate Flowers bowed out and passed it onto Magistrate Kathleen Lewis in court number three. In late December 2008, officers found one point five million dollars inside a suitcase which was in one of the bedrooms of the Coye family. Melanie, Jude and their parents, Marlene and Michael Coye, Athlee Matute, James Gerou maintain the funds were proceeds from Money Exchange, the Money Gram sub agent, that they operated. The Coye family’s attorney, Arthur Saldivar, says he hopes that his clients will soon have justice.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
On September twenty-fourth attorney for the Coye family, Arthur Saldivar, presented information in-chambers that could have affected his client’s case. Today, that magistrate recused herself from the case.
Arthur Saldivar, Attorney for the Coye Family
“The honourable magistrate, misses Flowers, decided that it would be in the best interest of justice for her to recuse herself from the matter and have the matter transferred.”
Jose Sanchez
“So which judge are you before now?”
Arthur Saldivar
“We are before court number three and her honor Magistrate Lewis.”
Jose Sanchez
“You’ve been given full disclosure, anything in the evidence presented makes you feel your case is weak or strong?”
Arthur Saldivar
“Well, as you said, we have been given disclosure. And our clients position have always been that they didn’t do any of the things that they were accused of doing. They profess their innocence and will always stick to that. From what I’ve seen and what others have seen in the disclosure we have not been given any reason to believe the case is less than strong.”
The travel restrictions on the Coye family have affected their lives. Melanie missed school exams in Costa Rica, her mother’s floral business collapsed, and James Gerou has been unable to visit his father, who is ill with cancer in the U.S.
James Gerou, Charged with Money Laundering
“In the beginning, the first magistrate, Miss McKenzie, she allowed me to surrender myself along with my documents and passport. She said, if you want to leave the country just ask special permission. I have asked, I have requested, I left once and I did come back. I am no flight risk.”
Jose Sanchez
“And your reason for travelling, you have a sick family member?”
James Gerou
“My step-father at the moment is really bad. He has been dealing with lung cancer for six and a half-seven years now and I really want to see him. If something happens to him drastically, I’ll forgive myself to get a chance to see him.”
Despite the charges against him and his in-laws, Gerou has confidence in the justice system of his adopted country.
James Gerou
“Before all this happened I loved this place. I’ve been here like three years ago before we arrived the first time. It’s a very nice country. The people are awesome. I used to play basketball outside, talk to the people and with all this now I can’t do anything now, can’t go anywhere now. I get harassed, asked about the case.”
Jose Sanchez
“When it comes to the case itself, you’re confident that this will be acquitted because you do maintain your innocence of course?”
James Gerou
“You know at this moment I shouldn’t even say anything about the case but like I said, we’re very confident that justice will prevail.”
Jose Sanchez
“Has anything changed in your strategy?”
Arthur Saldivar
“Well we’re calling it by balls and strikes to use a softball analogy. We’re now in the third court. Hopefully, this is the final stop and where the buck stops for the Coye family in relation to having this matter be dealt with.”
Athlee Matute, James Gerou and the Coye family return to Magistrate court number three on October ninth. Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
