Ex-DCO sues cops, DPP for malicious prosecution
(CNS): Dalton Errald Watler-Lyons (Dalton Watler), a former deputy chief officer in the tourism ministry, has filed suit against the police commissioner, the director of public prosecutions and the attorney general, as well as a named RCIPS officer and a prosecutor, claiming he was unlawfully investigated, arrested, charged and then prosecuted over allegations that US$30,000 which police found at his George Town home was the proceeds of crime.
Prosecutors were unable to identify any crime and the case was thrown out of court halfway through the trial when a judge found there was insufficient evidence to put the case to a jury.
During the trial in 2022, Watler (63) argued that the money had been amassed over four years from his personal savings account, and then used to purchase US currency from Cayman National Bank. During the trial the crown was not able to challenge his claims that he had earned the money. Watler had told the police he kept the money at his home because he did not trust the bank.
“In this case, the prosecution is not using lifestyle or lack of means to ground the charge; it is not suggested that the defendant could not have saved the money for the period that he states.” Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop said at the time, noting that there was no criminal link to the money, a fundamental part of a proceeds of crime charge.
There was also no explanation offered during the brief trial as to why the search warrant was obtained.
In his lawsuit, Watler says the defendants acted unlawfully when they “maliciously procured” that search warrant. During the search, he had revealed the cash to the police, but was then unlawfully arrested and later charged and maliciously prosecuted, he claims.
He says he has “suffered severe mental anguish”, for which he is still receiving medical treatment, and that his “reputation and that his sense of well-being in a small islands community has been affected”.
Watler says he has suffered loss and damage as a result of the unlawful actions by the authorities and is now seeking undisclosed damages for injury to his reputation and character, the “indignity, disgrace and humiliation”, and the deprivation of his liberty.
Watler, who is known as a leading figure in local sports and is a former chairperson of the Cayman Islands Athletics Association, said his standing and fame in the community have also been damaged.
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Category: Local News
This type of behavior by DPP, police and others within an elite circle has become far too common placed andvit has to stop.
This is how trust in the legal system is rapidly eroding!
If he chooses to keep cash lying around its entirely his choice even if one thinks its foolhardy.
The judge correctly pointed out the process by which they must prove it was from illegal gains and they couldnt.
In fact given the lack of evidence it should have never made it to any charges being levied.
Please note that the crown has the burden of proof!
It has to stop and to do so removal of those overzealous incompetent personnel is a start!
Be careful leaning in that door Dalton, you never know what might come out!
The Anti Corruption Commission are just as useless as the ODPP.
Way to go, Dalton! What I would like to hear now is a lawsuit against DCI, Woody DaCosta and the Liquor Licensing Board for the Peanuts Gas Station fiasco some years ago. A long standing Civil Servant of 30 years was named and shamed in the media and eventually bullied out of her job because she told the truth. Shame on the Government for how they treat their own!
If he wins, will he ask government to transfer the money to his bank account or ask them come stuff it under his matrass?
Remove coffee tin from sock drawer, remove plastic lid, roll bills into retirement cylinders, affix rubber band, close drawer. The stupid test is: don’t tell everyone you have this loose cash in your house by suing CIG.
All you goofies in the comments are missing the point. Judicial abuse shouldnt be laughed at when its being doled out on the public. ANYONE in the public. When you have the unfortunate run in with the ODPP you will be begging for support. I Hope he wins millions of dollars and they all get fired.
Way to go Dalton! I hope your lawsuit is at least for 100 times the $30000 which they falsely confiscated from you!
Bastards!!
you must be taking the pi$$🤣
Regardless of hiw you may feel about anyone who is in this position, you should realise one thing as well, that is that the Office of the DPP is being weaponized and used against individuals and charging them with only the flimsiest of circumstancial evidence.
The judge (NOT DALTON!! Not a Jury, the JUDGE) in the original case threw out the case by the ODPP for lack of evidence.
How does a matter get so far in the judicial process when lacking crucial evidence??
Who is making the decisions to take these very weak cases forward??
This type of behavior by DPP, police and others within an elite circle has become far too common placed andvit has to stop.
This is how trust in the legal system is rapidly eroding!
If he chooses to keep cash lying around its entirely his choice even if one thinks its foolhardy.
The judge correctly pointed out the process by which they must prove it was from illegal gains and they couldnt.
In fact given the lack of evidence it should have never made it to any charges being levied.
Please note that the crown has the burden of proof!
It has to stop and to do so removal of those overzealous incompetent personnel is a start!
This would be comical if it wasn’t so tragic – impact on his fame in the community, oh please 😆😆. as previously mentioned he is absolutely NOT linked in anyway to the numbers racket on island.
This was never about the numbers game. Try to keep up.
He is leaving out a few persons.
Bernie’s henchman! They are thick as thieves in the Sports ministry
You go Dalton. Everybody in Cayman knows that your brother is NOT the numbers man.
Hmmmm………
Don’t blame him. Domestic deposit taking banks are not insured.
It is extremely unfortunate. But also unfortunate that most do not know this. It should be against the law for banks to get away with insuring nothing in their banks.
“Watler, who is known as a leading figure in local sports and is a former chairperson of the Cayman Islands Athletics Association, said his standing and fame in the community have also been damaged.”
I’ve heard some horseshit in my time but this little nugget may well take the cake.
well done.
there should be a class action lawsuit by all residents against the incompetence of cig and the civil service.
Don’t be too hard the Civil Service, please.
Do you think they like this rabble any more than those outside? No. In fact they are sick and tired of seeing the blatant misuse of public funds and nepotism of the politicians but are powerless to do anything about it.
Here is where you need a competent Deputy Governor who will stand up to these bullies and draw the line that they cannot cross. World Class failure who will also soon be seeking election!
The civil service is not powerless. It is independent of politicians. It is well funded. It has investigators. The police. The judiciary. Prosecutors.
And despite it all, Cayman is a shitshow. And it is getting worse.
Politicians get away with what our robust law enforcers permit.