The Bennett Extradition Case Just Hit a Major Reset

Belize’s long-running Andrew Bennett extradition case is heading back to the High Court after a major ruling from the Caribbean Court of Justice today.

The CCJ examined whether authorities could rely on WhatsApp messages as evidence in extradition proceedings against attorney Andrew Bennett. Those messages allegedly showed him communicating with a U.S. undercover agent in a suspected money-laundering scheme. Lower courts had already ruled that using those messages violated Bennett’s constitutional rights. But the CCJ found a critical error; those decisions relied on a law that was not even in force at the time.

That law, the Interception of Communications Act, only took effect in November 2023, years after the messages in question and after earlier court rulings. Because of that, the CCJ says the earlier judgements were legally flawed. Rather than decide the constitutional issues outright, the regional court is sending the matter back to the High Court.

Judges say that will give both sides a full and fair chance to argue whether the use of the WhatsApp messages violates broader constitutional protections. The Court also made it clear this is not a simple question. It involves complex issues about privacy, modern technology, and how courts should treat digital evidence.

In the meantime, the extradition case itself remains unresolved, with the High Court now set to take another look at one of Belize’s most closely watched legal battles.