Reports allege 3 Dominican Attorneys may engage with US Prosecutors in Court in Dominica beginning today

​Q95 news has noted online reports which allege some potential court engagement in Dominica between US Prosecutors and three Dominican Attorneys this week. It is further alleged that these three local Attorneys may be able to assist in an investigation of fraudster Pedro Fort Berbel, and that Senior Trial Counsel Wilfredo Fernandez of the US Securities & Exchange Commission will be in Dominica, in response to a judge's order to attend a hearing in Roseau today at 9:30am. Mr. Fernandez will reportedly be accompanied by his assistants.
 
Based on the online reports, it appears that the hearing will surround the US freezing bank accounts belonging to Mr. Berbel, who is allegedly being sued in Miami Federal Court by the SEC. The said online reports also indicate that the Attorneys and their families are concerned about the possible ramifications of this case on their families and careers.
 
According to the reports, on December 22nd 2017, Attorney's representing Berbel in Miami filed a Motion to Dismiss the SEC's case on several grounds, including the assertion that the court lacks jurisdiction due to the extraterritorial nature of the transactions involved, as stated in the Complaint, and that the government needed to file a response to this Motion on 6th January 2018.
 
On Saturday afternoon, the SEC filed a Request to extend the time needed to respond to the Motion to Dismiss. The Request was filed by Mr. Fernandez, citing some constraints he encountered while preparing his response, as well as the judge's order from Dominica.
 
Mr. Fernandez and his team flew into Dominica over the weekend and will be in court on Monday morning. It is not known which judge will adjudicate the case in Dominica.