GST takes Attorney Lionel Welch to Court

Lionel Welch

BELIZE CITY, Wed. Sept. 14, 2011

By Roy Davis

A bench warrant was ordered yesterday for attorney Lionel Welch when he failed to appear in the #2 Magistrate’s Court for trial for 48 counts of failing to file returns to general Sales Tax from January 2007 to January 211, a period of 4 years.

According to reports, the warrant was made out, but it was not signed so it was not executed.

Welch was arraigned on the charges on July 5 and he had pled not guilty. His case has been further adjourned until October 11.

In a case of strict liability Welch is accused of failing to file returns for each month for 4 years for the services he provides at his law firm.

If convicted, Welch faces a minimum fine of $500 for each count which would amount to $24,000.

Yesterday Welch commented by saying that he foolishly spent his money on football.

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