Evidence quite compelling – Emmanuel

Attorney-at-law Geoffrey Letang

An attorney-at-law representing Glenworth Emmanuel in a court matter against his former partner, Stephen Isidore, who is accused of stealing over $6 million while a partner in his firm, has said that his client has a very compelling case.

“Well the evidence appears to be quite compelling, based on the evidence that we have. That is why it is before the court and it is the right of the defendant to defend the matter, but my client Mr Emanuel felt that he has a very strong case based on the documentary evidence… so let the courts try the matter,” attorney Geoffery Letang told reporters outside the High Court yesterday following a hearing on the matter.

Letang said that a magistrate’s court, through a preliminary inquiry, is the only medium to decide whether there is sufficient evidence for the case to be able to go to the high court for trial.

“The question of whether there is evidence, I do not agree. The magistrate’s court in a PI actually determine whether there is prima facie evidence to be sent before the high court before a judge and a jury…So all the necessary evidence will be brought before a magistrate’s court at the preliminary inquiry. If there are insufficient evidence to deal with it, well then they can make an application to have the matter be struck off, you call that a no-case submission,” he explained.

“As far as I know and according to the law if complaints have been filed or complaints are being laid before the magistrate’s court, the next procedure – since the magistrate has the statutory duty under the magistrate code and procedure act – is to have the complaints be read to the defendant and then from there is to have the matter adjourned,” he said.

Letang added: “The complainant will serve documents on the defendant, all necessary documents…so that on the next adjourned date then he will be aware of what case is made against him and then will have an opportunity to defend the case.”

Isidore is alleged to have stolen the money while a partner in the law firm, Emanuel, Isidore & Associates.

The criminal complaints were filed against Isidore by Emanuel. They will reappear in court on March 11, 2011 for further deliberations.

At a previous hearing on December 6, 2010,  an order of stay was granted by the high court upon request from Isidore’s solicitors. The order prohibited Isidore from being read over 42 charges brought by Emanuel.

Isidore, who was due to face those charges at a Roseau Magistrates, was spared that formality when his solicitors presented the Chief Magistrate Evelina Baptiste with a high court order which stated that the chief magistrate or any other magistrate is hereby prohibited from hearing the complaints or any other complaints filed by Emmanuel and Associates and or Glensworth Emmanuel against the applicant, pending the hearing and determination of the application for judicial review.

Yesterday, Justice Birnie Stephenson-Brooks ruled that the order of stay continue. Leave was also granted for Isidore to file affidavits in response to Emanuel’s documents within seven days and for the intended party to file submissions within 21 days. Responses to these documents are to be within 14 days if necessary.

Criminal complaints were filed against Isidore in the magistrate’s court on Nov. 19, 2010 by Emanuel.  Isidore faces 35 counts of obtaining property by deception, five charges of false accounting, one charge of false statement by a firm’s partner and one count of theft. The theft charge involves $6,975,070.88 which was allegedly stolen by Isidore from the partnership between 2006 and 2010 .

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33 Comments

  1. omz
    December 27, 2010

    peeping to see i think you want to write Dame Home. I want to know as though i hear its the guy above

  2. cool it
    December 27, 2010

    the world is seeing our reasoning. wow its poor let us leave that for the legal luminaries and wish that the matter comes to a just end.

  3. Thief callin thief thief
    December 27, 2010

    Have you ever heard of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. Aked that Lawyer that you are seeing in the Picture? if he does not answer u i will. Am waiting

  4. Jean senjoe
    December 26, 2010

    Par par mette , he is a senjoe man so I doh want to say too much, but,, how come he get so rich Sooo quick? Charity begins at home so I love to see people in my village do well, but on a serious note he is a young man with less than 20 yr of practice . I work hard too and I doh see me getting rich without doing some little bore ball on the side.. Just saying. Isidore pay de man .. All of all u are sarkwai vorlere.

  5. Sisizeb on the fence
    December 25, 2010

    When the land deals with the PM involved went sour. One man thought that he was the friend of the crooked PM and not the partner. The one who thought he was close friend of the King felt that he deserve more of the loot so he put his hand in the cookie jar and take what he think is his. Now since the PM was buying 2.09 acres from one partner and the orther partner feel that when it comes to land deals he represent the king so you see the conflicting interest. If you guys want some more info, just ask and you shall receive. I just can’t go to deep.
    A little food for thought – The penguine lawyer jump into the tank to see if he can rescue the drowning Viellecase zandoli because the Viellecase Zandoli name is all over this soap opera. The father priest lawyer cannot buffer all the Zandoli secretes and since the penguine lawyer has been doing all the lies the crooked men need to insure that there is some type of consistency- meaning more lies to cover up the lies that have already been dispensed.

  6. Waiting in Vain
    December 25, 2010

    Dominicans dont hold your breaths because this case will result in a settlement and tongues will be tied . remember the Matt Peltier fiasco? Remember the land deals of the PM and Tony Astaphan mentioned the name of the plaintiff. Remember the accused was also involved in those crooked land deals too. I assure you that if this case goes through there will be eye brow raising , the names of political figures will come up in the most embarassing ways. Trust Me on that . This is the reason why Tony jump into the tank to see what he can salvage. People like Lennox Lawrence cannot fully protect the PM secretes entrenced or emborsed in this case.
    I predict a settlement; Tongues locked and secured -Keys thrown in the French Waters.

    Somebody remind me later when the revalation comes through

  7. Robin
    December 23, 2010

    The public has a right to be informed.

  8. Dominican- London Base
    December 23, 2010

    All I have to state is this as follows” Whilst one is monitoring one who is monitoring the other” ?

  9. worried dominican
    December 23, 2010

    Isidore if you know you stold You Follow money give the man his money back .Dont want to see you by the side of the road my brother.Give the man his money back.

  10. naturelover
    December 23, 2010

    just waitin sure isidore has his version…..the full story will unfold—-the judgement has alreAdy been passed by the Q 95 PRIVY COUNCIL HA,HA,

  11. prissy
    December 23, 2010

    I WONDER WHO OR WHAT IS BEHIND MR EMMANUELS RECENT REVELATION?
    YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT MONEY? THAT IT IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL.
    WHY NOW MR EMMANUEL? WHY NOW?. CI IE PARNI SOUTEWE EI PARNI VOLEUR.

    • only
      December 23, 2010

      Better now than later.

  12. Princess Gnizama
    December 22, 2010

    What is hidden in the dark will one day be brought to light ..
    99 days for the thief and one day for the judge!
    A lot always happens while the nation is asleep. Keep them happy keep them drunk keep the veil around their eyes and let’s play ball baby from the top.

  13. Lawyer
    December 22, 2010

    Our local lawyers like the bottle and leak infor all the time in the speak-easys.yo ca parle toupe

  14. FED UP DOMINICAN
    December 22, 2010

    I’m still baffled how this was done. $6M just vanished. How.

    Both parties should question the abilities of their accountants, but more worrying is that any irrregularities were not spotted by the auditors. I’m presuming that they had 6monthly mini audits and the major ones year end.

    Like the accounts student, I’d like to know the methods used as I worked in accounts for 23 years and any discrepancies were queried by the auditors, and you had better have a good answer.

    • BB
      December 23, 2010

      Ever heard of Madoff?

      • Waiting in Vain
        December 25, 2010

        When the land deals with the PM involved went sour. One man thought that he was the friend of the crooked PM and not the partner. The one who thought he was close friend of the King felt that he deserve more of the loot so he put his hand in the cookie jar and take what he think is his. Now since the PM was buying 2.09 acres from one partner and the orther partner feel that when it comes to land deals he represent the king so you see the conflicting interest. If you guys want some more info, just ask and you shall receive. I just can’t go to deep.
        A little food for thought – The penguine lawyer jump into the tank to see if he can rescue the drowning Viellecase zandoli because the Viellecase Zandoli name is all over this soap opera. The father priest lawyer cannot buffer all the Zandoli secretes and since the penguine lawyer has been doing all the lies the crooked men need to insure that there is some type of consistency- meaning more lies to cover up the lies that have already been dispensed.

        Let me get before they shoot down the Sissizeb on the fence.

  15. afraid
    December 22, 2010

    the judicial system has gone rotten in Dominica not so confident that everyone gets justice any more not after what happened with Isidore: cannot arrest because……….but it was not too difficult for mahaut police to arrest a man for spraying “rent due for 12months”on his own house, the tenant is a former police officer the landlord was taken in handcuffs to the station.

  16. In Too Deep
    December 22, 2010

    Good Luck Garcon…..Good Luck!

    • Mike Tyson look alike in T& T
      December 22, 2010

      In too deep sounds like a D/can in T&T. with all this garcon business.

  17. Fairplay
    December 22, 2010

    ……….for we all have have sinned. We have broken one or more of the ten commandments ;the laws of God—–adultery,etc. :roll:

    • Jay
      December 22, 2010

      huhhh????

    • Anonymous
      December 22, 2010

      What does that have to do with the case? If u without fault i guess u can throw the first stone and u not like those in the Bible guilty of the same sin. :-P

  18. principles
    December 22, 2010

    if he did it i would like to know how he did it. i’m an accounting student.

    • Mystikal
      December 22, 2010

      this would be bad for you. cause you may want to know those tricks of the trade and you may be tempted to use them…right? On the other hand, these tricks can make you a better accountant and be aware of irregularities early enough before they escalate. right?

    • Hey just giving my two cents
      December 22, 2010

      True Principles I am Accounting as well.

      • gwo bek
        December 22, 2010

        stop being stupid. There are no accounting tricks. The man is accused of theft! As simple as that…

    • weatherman
      December 22, 2010

      TRY BEING AN AUDITOR, THAT FIELD IS THE FORENSIC ARM OF ACCOUNTING AN EX AUDITOR

  19. WIKILEAKS
    December 22, 2010

    QUESTION: letang you will make us lose all cases. garcon stop talking to the media, like is dno or Q95 that can win a case.

    you never see Tony giving up information like that , and the man winning all his case.

    garcon femme la bouche

    • Fete SaL
      December 22, 2010

      gag him!!

      • Mystikal
        December 22, 2010

        Tony gave a similar report to DNO…please read the recent archive. There is nothing wrong in what Mr. Letang said.

        • Anonymous
          December 22, 2010

          True i second that

    • prissy
      December 23, 2010

      They are trying the case in the court of public opnion. Oh so sad.

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