Caribbean Court of Justice sets precedence

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has ruled in favour of Belize’s Attorney General taking legal action against two former government ministers for losses suffered by the state.



The government is accusing two former government ministers of conducts un-becoming of government officials during the tenure of former Prime Minister Said Musa.



The lawsuit alleges that the two men sold prime government lots to a private company, which resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars to taxpayers.



The CCJ ruled that public wrongs should normally attract public sanctions and that corrupt acts ought to be dealt with by punishing the perpetrator.



The court says criminal prosecution against public officials would send a strong message to those who use powers entrusted in them for personal gain and which result in losses to the state.