The Pipeline is a dreadful web site that only post the negative side of any OMEX story, and they like to dramatise this with words like “Breaking News” or “Exclusive” when all they actually do is eventually pick up on stories that are already in the public domain, like this particular story that was Posted on 11[SUP]th[/SUP] January 2015 (Pipeline was only 9 days late reporting this story as a breaking news exclusive)
http://www.foni-lemesos.com/news/le...loneio-tin-ypothesi-tou-odyssey-explorer.html Maybe they have never heard of Google Translate LOL
The Pipeline also forgot to mention that the Lebanese did not send anyone to Cyprus, and that is one very big clue as to who’s jurisdiction that they are legally operating within.
They are also wrong to say that they were find for illegally importing artifacts, when the trumped up charge was actually for "not completing the customs form properly" by describing a recovered cargo as cargo and not antiquities.
Cyprus had so much egg on their face after seizing the vessel on a unsubstantiated rumor, that they had to trump a up charge so that OMEX could not bring an expensive claim for wrongful arrest. That’s why Cyprus shut the news reports down as they knew they were totally in the wrong, especially after being shown the details of the totaly legal UNESCO compliant archaeological operation.
There has been so much miss information put out by the now defunct poster AuvNav on this thread that its worth setting the record straight.
AuvNav’s claims:
"You are kidding, correct? What do you think Contempt of Court is? Odyssey was fined $1.2 Million Dollars for Contempt.
Charged and found guilty of Contempt."
Were there any “charges” laid for contempt of court “No”
Was there a “court case” for Contempt of Court “No”
Was anybody summoned to attend court for Contempt of Court “No”
Was anybody “prosecuted” for Contempt of Court “No”
Was OMEX “fined” for Contempt of Court “No”
Was anybody “jailed” for Contempt of Court “No”
The case that this relates to was Spain trying to claim 100% of their legal fees for the Mercedes case and the judge has to asses the amount, so being ordered to pay "66%" of your opponents legal fees for being “in contempt” by acting in poor faith, is not the same at all as being Charged, Found Guilty and Fined for Contempt of Court in criminal proceedings.
http://legaltimes.typepad.com/files/odyssey.pdf
And we all know from Wikileaks the gross injustice of this case.
WikiLeaks Cables Cited in Lawsuit Over $500 Million Sunken Treasure | WIRED
"Don't forget the SEC charges on the Tortugas debaucle. Charged and prosecuted for securities fraud".
In 1994 the Securities and Exchange Commission sued Seahawk, Stemm, and Morris,
alleging fraud and insider trading.
Seahawk settled with the SEC
without admitting or denying the claims; a condition of the deal was that Stemm and Morris resign.
The two executives
decided to fight the allegations against them in court, and at the same time formed a new treasure hunting company, later named Odyssey. They took it public in September 1997, before their trial even began.
After a jury found in their favor in November, some of the same investors came back, Eventually Odyssey’s investors included Fortress Investment Group, Raj Rajaratnam’s Galleon Group, and BlackRock, which still holds a stake.
"The Mercedes, criminal charges in Court of Linea in Spain, investigation still pending". No one Charged, Found Guilty or Fined after all these years.
"The Gairsoppa, Investigation pending for overcharging $4.5 million. pending investigation". No one Charged, Found Guilty or Fined after all these years.
"MMO. Charged and found guilty of working the Victory site without a permit. Deferred sentencing. MMO permit still pending".
Actually situation: OMEX Not charged or found guilty of anything.
After a careful review of this evidence, I am satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for the offences listed above and the facts of this case have now been considered and recorded. In this instance, however, it has been decided not to prosecute you for the offences and instead to mark these offences with an Official Written Warning for the offences, in accordance with the MMO’s compliance and enforcement strategy.”
In the UK we have a legal system where you have to be taken to court and "Found Guilty" before you can be regarded as guilty or sentenced.
Government departments often lose their cases when both sides present their cases, there is not any indication whatsoever that the MMO would have won any case against OMEX even if they did try and prosecute, as they are an organisation in total disarray and you can drive coach and horses through their legislation and procedures e.g.
Whitsand Bay dumping permit was illegally issued | West Country (W) - ITV News
"Earnesto Tapanas, charged and convicted of insider trading in OMEX, Currently still working for Odyssey". Tapanas was an external consultant who on finding the site, Tapanes and others signed a confidentiality agreement agreeing to keep the find confidential and
not to trade in Odyssey Marine stock. In breach of his duty of trust and confidence, and while in possession of material, nonpublic information about that discovery, Tapanes purchased Odyssey Marine stock prior to Odyssey Marine's public announcement of the discovery.
His dealings were nothing to do with OMEX as he had signed to say he would not buy or sell shares.
"Odyssey Explorer and Ocean Alert detained when leaving Gib on criminal charges",
Released without any charges, court proceedings, prosecutions or fines
"Vorus arrested". Captain arrested for not allowing Spanish Authorities to board the ship as they had not contacted the Flag State of the vessel first, as they should have done.
Released without any charges, court proceedings, prosecutions or fines
