Amadea to stay in Fiji for a bit longer after Court of Appeal grants stay on registering warrant

The Russian superyacht Amadea is not leaving the country anytime soon as the Court of Appeal has granted an interim stay of execution and enforcement of the warrant to seize the yacht. 

This comes after lawyer Feizel Haniff who represents the registered owners of the superyacht, Millemarim Investment Limited filed for a stay this afternoon in the Appeals Court on the judgement passed by Justice Amaratunga to register the warrant filed by the DPP for the United States on Tuesday.

While delivering his ruling tonight, the Acting President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Dr. Jayantha de Almeida Guneratne says Amadea is to be further restrained from leaving the Fijian waters pending the hearing and determination of Haniff's application for stay of the execution of Justice Amaratunga orders.

Justice Dr. Guneratne has also ordered the Fiji Police Force to assist in the enforcement of his order.

The matter has been adjourned to next Thursday.

Earlier today, the application for stay was refused by Justice Amaratunga as he does not have the powers to do so under the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act.

The yacht arrived into the country on April 12th and is docked in Lautoka.

It is unlikely the owner is on board and there are more than 20 crew on board.

The U.S claims the real owner of the superyacht Suleiman Kerimov. The economist and former Russian politician was sanctioned by the U.S in 2018 for alleged money laundering and has faced further sanctions from Canada, Europe, Britain and other nations after Russia invaded Ukraine.