7 News Belize

Lev, Last Man Standing
posted (January 27, 2020)
The trial of Lev Dermen started today in Salt Lake City, Utah - and it's big news in Belize, because Dermen allegedly paid $25,000 US dollars monthly to a Belizean minister back in 2013.

But, today, there were no bombshells - in fact, nothing at all. That is because the day was spent on jury selection.

That could go into tomorrow - to be followed by opening arguments. Then the prosecution will present its case. And, during that Jacob Kingston is expected to take the stand - possibly as early as Thursday. He is then expected to talk about bribes he paid to officials in Turkey, the United States, and, yes, Belize. Kingston has told prosecutors he exchanged text messages with Minister John Saldivar on behalf of Dermen.

Kingston is one of five defendants in the case which is really about Washakie Renewable Energy - a biofuel company in Utah which defrauded the US government of half a billion dollars. The principals of the company - who are Kingston and his siblings - allegedly did this in concert with Lev Dermen.

Dermen now stands alone as the only defendant who has maintained his innocence. The others - "all affiliated with the polygamous Kingston Group pleaded guilty last year and are expected to testify against Dermen," according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

So, how does that connect to Belize? Well, Dermen was also an investor in a shrimp farm here. And, he knew and associated with quite a few UDP ministers including John Saldivar. Early court documents suggest Dermen wanted to get a diplomatic posting through Belize, and we know that two ministers - Michael Finnegan and John Saldivar put his name in for an honorary consul-ship in Las Vegas - which was rejected by the US.

But, in its overview of the case, today's Salt Lake Tribune says, quote, "The defendant also is suspected of bribing a Belize civil servant to help him obtain a passport and a gambling license."

The article adds that Prosecutors also plan to show evidence Dermen told Kingston to launder the proceeds of their fraud by sending money to businesses and accounts in Turkey, Luxembourg and Belize.

Bombshell stuff, and we'll be following the case very closely and let you know as soon as any Belize-specific revelations emerge.

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7 News Belize