BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Sept 24, CMC – The state has signalled its intention to appeal a ruling by the High Court on Wednesday that quashed a magistrate’s decision to commit a former senior executive of the now defunct CLICO Life Insurance Company chairman to stand trial for alleged theft and conspiracy.
The High Court is to hear submissions on the issue of damages and costs. The matter was adjourned to February 23, next year.
King’s Counsel Roger Forde, who headed a three-member team for the state, said that the matter is far from over.
“The matter is not yet over. 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 said, noting 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.
In 2023, Magistrate Manila Renee sought to have the case, in which Leroy Parris was alleged to have stolen BDS$3.3 million (One Barbados dollar=US$0.50 cents) from the insurance company, sent to the High Court.
But 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 (DPP) were listed as respondents in the suit.
In handing down her ruling on Wednesday, Justice Michelle Weekes also issued an order quashing the magistrate’s decision to commit Parris to stand trial. In addition, the judge also also prohibited the magistrate from sending to the 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.
“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.
Speaking to reporters after the ruling, Gollop said 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.”
In 2012, charges were initially laid against Parris accusing him of stealing the funds 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 alleged 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 BDS$3.3 million.
CMC/ag/ir/2026