By EARYEL BOWLEG
Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Exuma MP and Supreme Court judge Elliot Lockhart is wanted by police accused of fraud by false pretences.
Police released a wanted poster for Mr Lockhart, 68, yesterday, listing his last known address as 67 Ocean Drive, Adelaide Village.
Details of the matter for which police want Mr Lockhart were not revealed, but last year, former clients of Mr Lockhart, KC, applied to send him to prison after he allegedly failed to refund more than $3m they claim they gave his firm to hold in escrow.
Court documents claimed Dr Paul Fuchs sent Mr Lockhart’s firm $3,033,453.80 to hold in escrow for proposed real estate transactions and ancillary applications –– but the money was not returned when the proposed deals were cancelled and abandoned.
Mr Lockhart and Patricia Bullard, the interim administration director of Lockhart & Co, are defendants.
Supreme Court Justice Denise Lewis-Johnson froze various accounts connected to them in September and ordered them to produce evidence of their worldwide assets exceeding $3m and their efforts to return their clients’ money.
Dr Fuchs’ lawyers applied to commit Mr Lockhart and Ms Bullard to prison in October, arguing that they did not comply with Justice Lewis-Johnson’s September 13 order.
In addition to his notable legal and political career, Mr Lockhart is a former chairman of Nassau Flight Services, the Gaming Board of The Bahamas and the Police Inspectorate.
More like this story
- JUDGE ASKED TO JAIL FORMER MP: Application to commit Lockhart to prison for ‘failure’ to refund $3m
- Ex-mp still free over $3m ‘life-altering’ money battle
- BPL fraud: Two face $2m charges
- Lawyer upset over viral video of argument at Exuma airport
- Lanisha Rolle denies charges of bribery and conspiracy to commit fraud
Comments
TalRussell 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Hate be the one to put it out there --- But it was confirmed, that, Comrade "Convict" Sam Bankman-Fried, hasn't shaved since being jailed. .--- Nor has the motherf—er ... Taken to prison showering. --- You couldn't make it up, now, could you --- Yes?
John 8 months, 4 weeks ago
I guess you was his cell mate .. prison requirements are that certain hygienic requirements be met for the health and safety of others guards and convicts
TalRussell 8 months, 4 weeks ago
So, yes, Comrade John, as acceptable is for Fox Hill prison life. --- When taking a shit in [the not so hygienic communal 'slop bucket'] --- In front of cellmates. --- .--- [Thinking, how can this not soon become a case matter to be taken before the King of England]. . --- You couldn't make it up, now, could you. --- Yes?
hrysippus 8 months, 4 weeks ago
This exactly the sort of thing that happens in the Bahamas that makes the rest of the world laugh and say "Muddoes" the gubmint Dem made him a KC...? Wow, is the nation still for sale even 22 years after we got rid of Pingaling?
ThisIsOurs 8 months, 4 weeks ago
He was made a QC in 2015 by the Perry Christie govt
Tribune 2017 - Court of Appeal found Elliot Lockhart QC had failed to inform Clifford Dean, who had been convicted of "drug offences", that he was also the president, director and a beneficial owner of the company seeking to acquire the latter's real estate in a $250,000 deal. Mr Lockhart, who was acting for both vendor and purchaser, was also criticised by an earlier Supreme Court verdict over the same transaction, which found he committed "a breach of fiduciary duty" and violated the Bahamas Bar Association's Code of Professional Conduct for failing to disclose his 'conflict of interest'.
That verdict by then-justice Neville Adderley, which was not appealed, found in favour of Mr Dean's argument that Mr Lockhart be barred from representing the other party in the case due to his previous 'conflict of interest'. They were subsequently represented by Harvey Tynes QC at the Court of Appeal.
The deal in question also occurred in 1999-2000, when Mr Lockhart was the FNM MP for Exuma and Ragged Island, and Mr Dean one of his constituents.
In 2018 a video of him circulated where he exhibited unusual behaviour at the Exuma airport later admitting that he'd had one or two drinks.
Considering that this fraud conviction was for a 1999 land deal, not sure how he was in a position to execute another high value land transaction.
Irrespective of the outcome on this case he might need counseling, something isnt right.
Porcupine 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Certainly this qualifies him for a higher office.
ThisIsOurs 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Our politics does seem to attract a large number of the wheeling dealing type. Its notable that he was a sitting MP when he entered into the 1999 deal
Porcupine 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Shouldn't be on the front page though, should it Tribune?
sheeprunner12 8 months, 4 weeks ago
So, what qualifies a lawyer to be disbarred???
Half of the Bahamian lawyers seem to have grubby, dirty, sticky fingers 🤔
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