By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A STATUS hearing was set for a disbarred attorney who is accused of stealing nearly $2 million from his clients.

Ralph Jan Ward, 54, of Paradise Island, was told by Justice Vera Watkins that he was to return to court on April 16, 2013 for an update concerning his application to the Court of Appeal.

In August last year, the former attorney pleaded guilty to stealing $1.9 million from clients who had acquired his services to secure property for them.

He told Justice Vera Watkins he would need time to restore the funds owed and she gave him until October.

However, when he reappeared, he informed the judge that he wanted to change his plea to not guilty, which prompted an objection from prosecutor Eucal Bonaby.

At a hearing in January, Wards’ attorney, Murrio Ducille, argued that his client did not receive proper legal advice before entering his plea.

He said Ward’s training was not in criminal law and therefore he had no practical experience.

The prosecutor opposed the application to withdraw the guilty plea, on the basis that it was an abuse of the process.

On May 24, the judge ruled partially in Ward’s favor as he was successful in his application to withdraw his guilty plea to charges of stealing $1.9 million from eight clients by reason of service.

However, he was not successful in a constitutional motion, in which his attorney Murrio Ducille argued that the charges were brought too late.

Mr Ducille and Ward, however, have since filed a notice of appeal to the Court of Appeal with respect to the judge’s ruling on the constitutional motion.

Yesterday, Mr Ducille told Justice Watkins that a date had not yet been set for a substantive hearing before the Appeal Court.

The judge set the matter down to April 16, 2013, which is nearly a year before Ward is scheduled to stand trial, on April 7, 2014.