A High Court judge has reserved judgment in a case in which a Chinese businessman is seeking judicial review of a decision by the government to withhold his St. Kitts-Nevis passport.
Ren Biao had obtained a local passport under the controversial Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) in 2013. The CIP allows for foreign investors who make a significant contribution to the socio-economic development of the country to also attain citizenship of the twin-island Federation.
But his passport was kept by the authorities last year when Biao sought to have it renewed. The authorities said that a number of passports had been recalled to address several issues, including the place of birth information.
The attorneys for Biao, who had returned to China late last year, after Chinese authorities had accused him of swindling US$100 million from a Chinese state company, maintained their argument that the passport of their client should be returned.
But the government lawyers argued that the passport would be returned to the claimant, once the allegations he faced in China, were resolved.
Last August Biao had hoped to travel to China with his St Kitts and Nevis passport, but had to settle instead for a temporary Chinese document.
His attorney, Chesley Hamilton, had said then that the judicial review is aimed at addressing the matter of the government not having extended his client rights and privileges to continue to use the St Kitts and Nevis passport which he had acquired under the CIP.
Justice Pearletta Lann, who heard the matter last week, has since reserved her judgment and court observers note that if the leave is granted, the process of filing a claim begins, where the substantive issues will be discussed.
Both parties could appeal the judge’s ruling, they note.
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