SWAZI KING’S JET ‘TO BE RELEASED’

The King of Swaziland’s private luxury jet impounded by a court in Canada in a dispute over alleged unpaid debts could be released by Saturday (18 April 2015) after the Swazi Government paid US$3.5 million as a financial guarantee for the King.

The jet has been attached in Ontario, Canada, by a court since January 2015 in a dispute about unpaid bills for upgrades and modifications to the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 (also known as an MD-87).

A company called SG Air has taken Inchatsavane, a Swaziland-based company which is solely-owned by King Mswati III, to court in Canada alleging it owes US$3.5 million for the work done on the jet.

The jet was attached by the court in Ontario. 

Attachment is a legal process by which a court of law, at the request of a person who is owed money, requires property owned by the person who owes the money to be transferred to the person who is owed the money, or sold for the benefit of the person who is owed the money.

The legal case has not finished, but the Ontario Court of Appeal said the jet could be released if Inchatsavane delivered a letter of credit for US$3.5 million which would be held in trust in a bank until the court case was concluded.

This guarantee would ensure that if SG Air won the case money would be available to pay the company the money it was owed.

It is understood that the money has been deposited. However, instead of coming from Inchatsavane or the King personally, it is understood the money was paid by Swaziland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. It this proves to be the case it would mean the people of Swaziland, rather than the King, who rules the kingdom as an absolute monarch, would be paying the King’s debt should he lose the court case.

Proof of letter of credit needs to be accepted by lawyers in the case before the jet can be released. Once released, the jet can be flown out of Canada and return to Swaziland. This is expected to be completed before Saturday.

The case of the unpaid debt returns to the Ontario Court of Appeal on 11 June 2015.

See also

SWAZI KING NOT ABOVE THE LAW IN CANADA

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2015/04/swazi-king-not-above-law-in-canada.html

 

SWAZI KING IS ABOVE THE LAW, COURT TOLD

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2015/04/swazi-king-above-law-court-told.html

WHO PAID FOR SWAZI KING’S JET

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2015/04/who-paid-for-swazi-kings-jet.html

REVEALED: COST OF FLYING KING’S JET

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2015/04/revealed-cost-of-flying-kings-jet.html

 

SWAZI MPs CONFUSED OVER KING’S JET

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2015/04/swazi-mps-confused-over-kings-jet.html

 

REVEALED: DETAILS OF KING’S NEW JET

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2015/04/revealed-details-of-kings-new-jet.html

KING'S COMPANY AT CENTRE OF JET ROW

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2015/04/kings-company-at-centre-of-jet-row.html  

SWAZI KING ‘REFUSED TO PAY JET DEBT’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2015/03/swazi-king-refused-to-pay-jet-debt.html

 

SWAZI KING’S JET HELD FOR UNPAID DEBTS

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2015/03/swazi-kings-jet-held-for-unpaid-debts.html

 

‘SWAZI KING TO BUY US$44m PRIVATE JET’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2015/04/swazi-king-to-buy-44m-private-jet.html