You may recall that these 2 landowners are landlocked, and they can't get access to their respective properties without stepping on each other's toes. That's a big problem for Modiri, since Paumen was running his million-dollar cruise tourism operation, Dark Night through Modiri's land.

In 2014, Modiri sued him, his companies, and the Government of Belize because the Ministry of Natural Resources acquired Modiri's land "for a public purpose". That allowed Paumen to build a direct road, through Modiri's land so that he could ferry his cruise guests to this Dark Night compound, and to the Dark Night cave system. Justice Griffith reversed the acquisition, and scolded the Government saying that the acquisition was improper, and that it wasn't not done for any public purpose.

For the trespass itself, Justice Griffith awarded Modiri $300,000 which she ordered Paumen and his tour company to pay. That was in 2016, and since then, Paumen hasn't paid anything. So, earlier this year, Modiri initiated enforcement proceedings against him in the Supreme Court. The judge granted Modiri and his attorney an audience today, where they able to convince to judge to grant an injunction against Paumen, and his companies, Sibun Grain and Cattle Limited, and Indian Creek Equestrian. These companies are the owners of Paumen's properties, but as they are currently set up, Paumen and other persons are shareholders, which means that on paper, Paumen isn't the exclusive owner.

This presents a problem for Modiri because he wanted these properties attached to the enforcement proceedings so that he can get his money. He and his attorney believe that these shareholders are simply holding Paumen's properties on his behalf, and that he is the actual, beneficial owner. If that is accurate, the assets of these companies would become allowable targets for crowfooting by the court to satisfy the judgment debt.

Modiri and his attorney, Oscar Sabido, successfully convinced Justice Griffith to grant an injunction, restraining the shareholders from transferring their shares in these 2 companies. It's the first step in the long battle to collect on the judgment debt.

Outside the courtroom, Modiri's attorney told us that from their perspective, Paumen is trying to escape paying it by transferring paper ownership of his assets to others.

We also spoke with Paumen's attorney, and asked him pointedly if Paumen is trying to avoid paying the judgment debt, as the claimants believe. Here's how he answered: