Former Attorney Breaches Agreement to Repay $1.8 Million

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A former attorney who stole $1.8 million from his clients has breached an agreement to repay the cash. 

Last September, Ralph Jan Ward took a plea deal that required him serve 18 months in prison.

He was allowed to remain free on $100,000 bail so that he could make arrangements to repay the money within nine months.

When the nine-month period expired, Ward requested and was granted another three months to pay the money.

Although not paying a dime towards his bill, Ward wants more time to come up with the money.

Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Eucal Bonaby said that Ward was making a mockery of the system and was being treated differently than other criminals.

He asked Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson to send Ward to prison since he had made no efforts to repay the money.

The matter has been adjourned to September 27.

Prior to his disbarment in 2009, Ward had a private practice in Saffrey Square.

Between 2006 and 2007, Ward misappropriated money entrusted to him by eight clients to complete property sales, prosecutors said.