Well known attorney-at-law Vincent Chen who was convicted
of fraud five years ago had his name cleared Friday when the Appeal Court quashed his 2003 conviction.
Mr. Chen, a former senior partner in the law firm Clinton, Hart and Company, was convicted in April 2003 in the Half-Way-Tree Criminal Court with defrauding Mrs. Fay Tortello and businessman Ronald Sasso of more than $20 million.
He was slapped with fines of more than $2 million.
His attorney argued then that the issues involved were more of a civil nature, not criminal.
Friday the Appeal Court ruled that the magistrate erred in finding him guilty of fraud charges.
Mr. Chen was convicted for investing more than $10 million of Mrs. Tortello's money into a failed company, JGH Mapp Successors Limited in 1997.
But the Appeal Court wrote that Mrs. Tortello, the sister of former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, made an unwise investment.
The High Court found that she was actually collecting interest payments on the investment.
The Appeal Court also found that Mr. Chen should not have been found guilty regarding the investment of $10 million given to him by Mr. Sasso.
Mr. Chen, a prominent figure in the legal fraternity, has been battling to clear his name since his conviction.
Mr. Chen, a former senior partner in the law firm Clinton, Hart and Company, was convicted in April 2003 in the Half-Way-Tree Criminal Court with defrauding Mrs. Fay Tortello and businessman Ronald Sasso of more than $20 million.
He was slapped with fines of more than $2 million.
His attorney argued then that the issues involved were more of a civil nature, not criminal.
Friday the Appeal Court ruled that the magistrate erred in finding him guilty of fraud charges.
Mr. Chen was convicted for investing more than $10 million of Mrs. Tortello's money into a failed company, JGH Mapp Successors Limited in 1997.
But the Appeal Court wrote that Mrs. Tortello, the sister of former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, made an unwise investment.
The High Court found that she was actually collecting interest payments on the investment.
The Appeal Court also found that Mr. Chen should not have been found guilty regarding the investment of $10 million given to him by Mr. Sasso.
Mr. Chen, a prominent figure in the legal fraternity, has been battling to clear his name since his conviction.
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