Trial against Parris in CLICO theft, conspiracy case remains on pause

By Emmanuel Joseph

The High Court has temporarily blocked a magistrate’s decision to commit former CLICO Life Insurance Company chairman Leroy Parris to stand trial on theft and conspiracy charges.

Early last year, Magistrate Manila Renee sought to commit the 78-year-old Parris to face a judge and jury for his alleged theft of more than $3 million from the failed insurance company. But the former executive applied to the High Court – through his attorneys Hal Gollop SC and Neil Marshall – for a judicial review of the magistrate’s decision, while at the same time requesting an injunction to halt the indictment from proceeding.  

High Court Justice Michelle Weekes granted the injunction to Parris, paving the way for a September 23 and 25 hearing on the former CLICO boss’ application for a judicial review. 

“What the court, in going through a number of authorities, found [was] that there are very serious issues to be tried,” Marshall told Barbados TODAY.

Gollop said: “The granting of the injunction to delay any trial of the criminal matter, would more gravely prejudice the right of Mr Parris, than the State, because it is the State against Mr Parris. The greater harm would be done to Mr Parris, if it were found later on, that to proceed at this stage, would have created some prejudice.”

Parris is accused of stealing $3.33 million from CLICO International Life Insurance Limited between December 1, 2008, and April 27, 2009. He is also charged with conspiracy to defraud CLICO by inducing the company to pay out the money to lawyers Thompson and Associates.

Prosecutors allege 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. Between December 1, 2008 and April 27, 2009, Parris engaged in money laundering of $3.33 million, the prosecution claims.

The former insurance executive who was not in court on Friday, has maintained his innocence throughout. He has been on $1.5 million bail since his first appearance before the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court in June 2020. 

Edmund Hinkson SC, who appeared for the State, declined to comment on the High Court ruling. 

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb