Judge freezes $B pastor’s assets

A HIGH Court on Friday ordered a freeze on the financial assets of Pastor Vishnu Lutchmansingh who claims that he is the beneficiary of a multi-billion dollar estate willed to him by deceased United States railway magnate Bulford Ray Keaton. Lutchmansingh has been ordered by Justice Sebastien Ventour not to dispose of or transfer his bank accounts or several vehicles he owns. The injunction was taken out by chicken magnate Shaheed Mohammed, proprietor of Nutrimix Farms of Barrackpore, against Lutchmansingh and his wife Martha. Lutchmansingh is founder and pastor of Faith Sanctuary Ministries of Chin Chin Road, Cunupia, and according to the injunction, the couple are not to transfer their RBTT accounts.

The injunction was filed by Senior Counsel Seenath Jairam, attorney Dharmendra Poonwasie instructed by Helen Lochan. The application was heard in the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain, before Justice Ventour. In granting the injunction, court documents showed that the Lutchmansinghs have been debarred from removing, causing to be transferred or diminishing in value, five Toyota vehicles, including brands such as Toyota Prado and Lexus. The order also restrains the Lutchmansinghs from disposing of or removing one Polo tent (60 feet by 140 feet wide). Justice Ventour also ordered that all monies in the defendants’ bank accounts, whether held in their own names, not be transferred, except the sum of $4,000 for reasonable living expenses on a monthly basis. This part of the judge’s order regarding the availability of living expenses for the Lutchmansinghs, was granted until February 6, 2004.

The order also stated that if the Lutchmansingh’s require a greater sum than $4,000 per month, they are to obtain the full prior written consent of the plaintiff’s (Shaheed Mohammed) attorney at law. Justice Ventour’s order also ordered the Lutchmansinghs to forthwith inform Mohammed by affidavits on or before the next five days, of each or all their assets in and outside of Trinidad and Tobago. The judge ordered that the injunction be served on the defendant pastor and his wife.