A lawyer in England representing British businessman and fugitive from prosecutors in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), Dave Ames says his client is too ill to return to the Caribbean nation for trial.
The lawyer has submitted to the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court a letter including a doctor’s certificate saying that Ames has chest problems and cannot travel for the next three months.
Ames, who also has Vincentian citizenship, is wanted by Vincentian prosecutors on tax evasion and theft charges.
He fled SVG late June after his lawyers had negotiated with prosecutors to allow him to be summoned to court, rather than being arrested.
His lawyers had asked prosecutors to proceed by summons in light of the fact that the British High Court was meeting in SVG at the time.
The British High Court was hearing evidence in a lawsuit that Ames, founder of Harlequin Hotels and Resorts, parent company of Buccament Bay Resort Ltd. and Harlequin Property SVG Ltd., has brought against his former accountant.
But Ames fled SVG via a speedboat that left from the Chateaubelair Port.
Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Legal Affairs, Ralph Gonsalves said Ames left legally since no arrest warrant had been issued for him at the time, nor was any stop notices issued.
It is not clear if Ames developed the chest problems, before, during or after the speedboat trip on the rough seas.
Magistrate Bertie Pompey granted Ames’ lawyer’s request for an adjournment and has set the next hearing for Nov. 18.
The Crown has also brought four tax evasion charges against Ames’ lawyer in SVG, Samuel Commissiong, who has pleaded not guilty.
Ames is charged that:
- between Feb. 1 and Dec. 31, 2011, he stole the sum of $397,615 — the property of the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines;
- between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2012, he stole the sum of $886,818.05 — the property of the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines;
- between Feb. 1 and Dec. 31, 2011, he stole the sum of $1,739,524 — the property of the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines
- between Jan. and Dec. 31, 2012, he stole the sum of $404,740.09 — the property of the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines;
- between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2012, he failed to pay the Comptroller of Inland Revenue the amount of $886,818.05 deducted from remuneration paid to employees;
- between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2013, he failed to pay the Comptroller of Inland Revenue the amount of $404,740.09 deducted from remuneration paid to employees;
- between Feb. 1 and Dec. 31, 2011, he willfully evaded the assessment payment or collection of VAT in the amount of $808,405;
- and that between Feb. 1 and Dec. 31, 2012, he willfully evaded the assessment payment or collection of value added tax in the amount of $2,754,132.
Coooooooooo Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Sam, looks like you are in plenty trouble.
But fear not about prosecution your owed one, or maybe two even.
Just watch your back least the enforcer comes to give you the special treatment. Just concentrate on staying alive. If you know as much as I think you do you should go into hiding.
SVG and her Government is surely living up to its name( laughing stock of the Caribbean) I am hear falling over my couch with laughter….I guess that why Ames ran out through the back doir( sea port) he had medical issues and since SVG has no hospital, he seek better care elsewhere… What’s the chance of this man returning?
Mr. Ames like your goose cook!
No wonder you have chest pain.
Ames probably has a bout of EE HUT ME syndrome like the calypsonians.
Bull shit!
The easiest certificate in the world to get is a doctor’s note which is obtainable simply by claiming some affliction or the other and paying the appropriate fee. I used to get dozens of these bogus notes every year during exam time from my university students who hadn’t studied hard enough to pass the final test.
This is absolutely hilarious.
Unfortunately, if the government tries to seize the resort for failure to pay back taxes, it would be stuck with tens of millions of dollars in court cases and other unpaid bills.
This resort, like Argyle airport, should never have been built.