Pubdate: Fri,  4 Feb 2000
Source: Nunatsiaq News (Canada)
Copyright: 2000 Nortext Publishing Corporation
Contact:  Box 8, Iqaluit, NT XOA OHO Canada
Fax: (867) 979-4763
Website: http://www.nunatsiaq.com/
Forum: http://www.nunanet.com/politics/index.html
Author: Sean McKibbon

DOPE DEALER'S EX CLAIMS PROCEEDS OF FORFEITURE SALE

Claude Caza's ex-wife is claiming an interest in any proceeds earned by the
sale of the convicted dope dealer's forfeited properties.

IQALUIT - A new wrinkle has emerged in the division of assets of convicted
Iqaluit hash dealer Claude Caza.

Caza's ex-wife, Catherine Michelle Caza, has filed a notice of motion with
the Nunavut Court of Justice saying she may be entitled to a piece of any
profits gained from the sale of properties forfeited by Claude Caza to the
Crown.

The motion also states Catherine Caza has an interest in "all books,
records, financial statements and documents obtained by her Majesty the
Queen in relation to Claude Yvon [sic] Caza, Caza and Sons Ltd. and Caza
Investments Ltd."

Last spring, after he pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to traffic in
drugs, and another charge that he defrauding three insurance companies in an
arson scam, Claude Caza was ordered to forfeit to the Crown several
properties he owned in Iqaluit and pay more than $500,000 in fines and
restitution.

The exact terms of the forfeiture order were set out in by Justice Brenda
Keyser Oct. 25, 1999.

Keyser ordered Caza to give up the Candy Store (building 161) , a house in
Apex (building 3100), and building 2019 (also known as the West 40) to pay
for fines relating to his drug convictions. The sale of these properties is
supposed to amount to $400,000.

Building 725 is to be forfeited as proceeds of an enterprise crime, since
according to the order "...the fraudulent insurance claim made by Claude
Yvonne Caza relating to the act of Arson committed upon the former Snack
building."

>From the proceeds of forfeiting building 725, Caza is supposed to pay
Boreal Pacific Insurance Co., the Ecclesiastical Insurance Co., and the
Sovereign General Insurance Co. each $56,000.

But the order forfeiting the new Snack Restaurant was revoked so long as the
forfeiture of Caza's other properties pays for his fines.

Catherine Caza has filed a restraining order on a number of her ex-husband's
properties and has registered caveats against the lands.

Under an agreement reached with the Nunavut Court of Justice two weeks ago,
the proceeds of any sales of Claude Caza's forfeited property that might be
left over after paying the fines and restitution will be put into a bank
account opened by the court until the Cazas can come to some agreement, or
until the matter is settled by the court.

Catherine Caza is also seeking a changes to the support payments that Caza
owes her.

On June 5, 1989 a court order by Justice M.M. DeWeerdt ordered that, "Pierre
[sic] Yvonne Caza pay to the petitioner, Catherine Michelle Caza, $400 and
the further sum of $1,800 on the first day of June, July and August 1989 in
full and final payment of all claims for maintenance which the petitioner
may have against the respondent..."

The order also said that upon making those payments Claude Caza would have
no further obligation to support Catherine.

Catherine Caza's lawyer James Posynick would not comment on his client's
motion.

But his client's notice of motion states, "The petitioner fears that once
the residue of the sale proceeds is paid to the respondent, the moneys will
be transferred outside the jurisdiction of the court and be inaccessible to
her."

However in chambers on Jan. 13 Claude Caza's lawyer, Sue Cooper, said her
client had no objection to the residual money being paid into an account
opened by the court.

The matter is scheduled to be heard again Feb. 3
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