The Tribune

AN Interpol red notice has been issued for former Exuma MP Elliot Lockhart, KC, who is wanted on two charges of stealing by reason of service and two charges of proceeds of criminal conduct.

If convicted, the charges could carry a maximum penalty of 34 years.

The notice, published last month, came after two people complained to police about Mr Lockhart in separate matters.

According to the notice, the first complainant, Daniel Clay Smith, Jr, reported to the Financial Crimes Investigation branch that he paid $3.2m to Mr Lockhart, 65, for legal work concerning Crown land in Staniel Cay, Exuma, between May 2002 and November 2022, and that the funds were also to help him and his family apply for citizenship.

However, the notice claimed that Mr Smith requested his money back when nothing materialised by November 2022.

“Mr Smith requested a wire transfer and Elliot Lockhart sent a document that appeared to be transfer details from CIBC First Caribbean International Bank to Cross Creek Group LLC dated 22nd December 2022,” the notice said. “However, the document was fraudulent, and the funds have not been received to date.” Detectives said CIBC First Caribbean International Bank confirmed that $3.1m was deposited to Mr Lockhart’s account on March 6, 2023, but the transaction was reversed moments later.

“It is suspected that the receipt generated from the transaction was given to Mr Smith to deceive him into thinking that the funds were on the account to cover the wire transfer,” the notice said.

The second complainant, Dr Paul Fuchs, reported that he retained legal services from Mr Lockhart’s law firm in May 2023 to buy several properties in Exuma and Paradise Island.

Subsequently, over several months, he transferred $3m to Mr Lockhart’s firm’s CIBC First Caribbean International bank account.

“The law firm failed to provide any documentation of the properties and produced several other inconsistencies. As a result, Dr Fuchs requested that the funds be returned on the 27th April 2023,” the notice said.

Mr Lockhart allegedly sent a copy of an alleged fraudulent wire transfer to Dr Fuchs for $3m, but the monies were never sent and Dr Fuchs received no funds.

Demand letters sent to Mr Lockhart produced no results. Dr Fuchs took legal action against Mr Lockhart last year.

Police released a wanted poster for Mr Lockhart in February. His last known address is 67 Ocean Drive, Adelaide Village.

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.

An Interpol red notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender or similar legal action.