Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

Supreme Court Judge Bryan Sykes today gave the go ahead for the forfeiture of several properties owned in Jamaica by 63-year-old Canadian Robert Bidwell.

The properties include some luxury apartments in St. Ann valued at millions of dollars.

They will be advertised for sale, as soon as the forfeiture order which was today granted is registered.

After waiving his right to an extradition hearing, Canadian Robert Bidwell was extradited from Jamaica to Canada in 2003, where he pleaded guilty to drug-related offences.

He was held in Jamaica in 2002, after eluding the Canadian authorities for more than 10 years.

The Supreme Court had granted an injunction in 2002 freezing Bidwell's assets.

Today, the director of public prosecutions, acting on a request from the Canadian Government applied for the forfeiture order to be registered.

Beverly Hudson, who said she was Bidwell's common law wife applied for an extension of time to file a defence but Justice Sykes turned down the application.

The judge said Hudson did not file an application in Canada in relation to the forfeiture orders.

He also said she did not appeal against a ruling which was made some time ago in the Supreme Court.

Hudson is the owner of a house in Breadnut Hill, St. Ann and some apartments which are listed as Bidwell's assets.

Prosecutors Caroline Hay and Loxley Ricketts made the application for the registration of the forfeiture order and also opposed Hudson's application.

Attorneys-at-law Barry Frankson and Hugh Thompson are representing Hudson said they were going to take instructions from their client, as to whether the matter was going to be appealed.

In January 2003, the offices of attorneys-at-law Ernest Smith and Hugh Thompson were searched by the police and documents and files belonging to clients were seized.

It was reported that the search and seizure were done under the Mutual Assistance (Criminal Matters) Act to assist the Canadian government in its investigations against Bidwell.

Smith and Thompson sued the government.

The Court of Appeal ruled that the search and seizure were in breach of the Constitution as well as lawyer and client privilege.

The lawyers have since filed a suit against the government seeking millions of dollars in damages.

The suit is pending in the Supreme Court.

radio@gleanerjm.com