A High Court judge has quashed a magistrate’s decision to commit former CLICO Life Insurance Company chairman Leroy Parris to stand trial for alleged theft and conspiracy. The government has indicated its intention to appeal the ruling.
In 2023, Magistrate Manila Renee sought to have the case, in which Parris was alleged to have stolen $3.3m from the now-defunct insurance company, sent to the High Court. Parris, through his attorneys, Hal Gollop KC and Neil Marshall, filed an application for judicial review and secured an injunction halting the indictment from proceeding.
Magistrate Renee, the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions were listed as respondents in the suit.
Delivering her decision in the No. 8 Supreme Court on Wednesday, Justice Michelle Weekes ruled in favour of the application and made an order of certiorari, a writ for a higher court to review a lower court’s decision, quashing the magistrate’s decision to commit Parris to stand trial.
She also prohibited the magistrate from sending the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Registrar of the Supreme Court any copy of the documents in the case and granted an injunction restraining the DPP from proceeding with the indictment against Parris.
Justice Weekes also declared: “The decision of the respondent in making the finding that there was sufficient evidence put before the court upon which the claimant could reasonably stand trial in a High Court is vitiated on the grounds that the first respondent acted in a manner that is unconstitutional and contrary to the principles of natural justice.”
The judge stated that reasons for her ruling would follow. The court is now to hear submissions on the issue of damages and costs, and the case was adjourned until February 23, 2027.
Speaking to reporters moments after the ruling, Gollop said: “It has been a long and arduous task and we feel vindicated by the decision and look forward to the further progress of the matter so that we may bring it to a final conclusion. My client is very happy that this act of injustice has been given the stamp of disapproval by the court and we are happy with the outcome.”
King’s Counsel Roger Forde, who appeared for the State along with attorneys Justin Nurse and Rene Forde, made clear that the matter was not over as he insisted that the former insurance boss should face a jury.
“The matter is not yet over,” Forde said. “An appeal will be filed and at some point in time, Mr Parris will face a jury. There is no merit at all in the decision. In fact, no reasons have been given for the decision.”
He noted that the case had previously been placed before another judge who had dismissed it.
“That itself tells you it is a matter for the appeal court,” he said, adding that he would be filing the application as soon as the reasons were made available.
Back in 2012, charges were initially laid against the former insurance executive, accusing him of stealing $3.33m from CLICO International Life Insurance Limited between December 1, 2008, and April 27, 2009, and of conspiracy to defraud CLICO by inducing the company to pay out the money to lawyers Thompson and Associates.
The State also alleges that, between April 1, 2009, and March 31, 2010, Parris was involved in a conspiracy to cheat the Commissioner of Inland Revenue by failing to submit tax returns or account for income taxes for the 2009 tax year and that between December 1, 2008, and April 27, 2009, Parris engaged in money laundering of the $3.3m.
(JB)
