A Belarussian family living in Ireland have learned that documents have been lodged with the authorities in their homeland with a view to criminal proceedings being taken, the High Court was told yesterday.
Mr Gabriel Houghton, solicitor for the family, asked the court for undertakings from two companies not to seek to have his clients removed from the jurisdiction or their visas revoked.
An injunction is continuing against Mr Gueannadi Seanko, his wife Tatiana and their daughter Elena, all with an address at Oakley Drive, Grantstown, Waterford, restraining them from reducing their assets below £300,000.
The injunction was granted to the Production Association Minsk Tractor Works and its subsidiary, Belarus Equipment (Ireland) Limited (BEL), which is the Irish distributor.
The companies alleged at an earlier hearing that over £257,000 of monies from customers of BEL was unaccounted for during Mr Seanko's tenure as managing director of that company.
In court yesterday, Mr Houghton said his clients had heard that documents had been lodged by the Minsk Tractor Works with the authorities in Belarus with a view to criminal proceedings being taken.
He asked that both plaintiffs undertake not to take any action, pending the completion of the legal proceedings, which could lead to the visas of the Seanko family being revoked.
Mr Martin Hayden, for both plaintiffs, said it was scandalous that an application of this nature should be made to the courts without one shred of evidence to substantiate it. No efforts had been made by his clients to have the defendants removed from Ireland.
The allegation was being made by a defendant who allegedly embezzled £300,000, counsel said. An investigation was being carried out to establish the full extent of the financial irregularities.
Mr Justice Kinlen said the issue of removal from the jurisdiction was a matter for the appropriate authorities. If there was an application by the government of Belarus to that effect, then it should take its normal course.
After the case was adjourned to enable both sides to reach an accommodation, Mr Houghton said he was not reassured on the question of his clients' removal from the jurisdiction. But he felt the issue could be dealt with by way of an application to the court.
Mr Hayden said the defendant had been given a permit to allow him to fulfil a particular task in Ireland. He understood Mr Seanko was no longer in employment and what might happen in such circumstances was outside the control of the plaintiffs.
Following exchanges on the question of the plaintiffs' assets, Mr Hayden said the assets included more than £340,000 worth of equipment.
The plaintiffs then undertook to furnish draft financial accounts of BEL while the Seanko family is to make available full details of all bank accounts held by them.
Mr Justice Kinlen adjourned the case to next Monday.