Court to Rule on Alfa Nero Injunction Today

The court will this morning deliver a judgment on whether an injunction will be granted to a Russian citizen who is seeking to block the completion of the sale of the Alfa Nero

The Superyacht was sold last week to United States Billionaire and Former Google Boss  Eric Schmidt at an auction price of $67.6 Million

Two weeks ago, the court allowed two applicants to file for judicial review challenging the Port Authority’s decision to sell the Alfa Nero but that same judge allowed the boat to be sold.

According to court papers, on May 22, Flying Dutchman and Vita Felice applied to prevent the sale of the Alfa Nero. They claimed that the process was unfair, also claiming that the amendments to the Port Authority Act to allow the sale violated their rights under the constitution

Andrew O’Kola, the attorney representing the yacht’s alleged owners, said his clients are pleased that the High Court granted permission for judicial review on the basis that the proposed sale of the yacht may be unlawful, but disappointed that the High Court did not also grant an injunction to stop the sale going ahead until the legality of what the government is proposing can be properly considered by the courts.

“We are therefore asking the Court of Appeal to grant an emergency injunction. To be clear, however, whether the auction goes ahead tomorrow or not, anyone intending to bid for the yacht needs to know that the government’s argument that it has the legal power to transfer ownership of the yacht to a purchaser is still the subject of an ongoing challenge in the courts.”

An injunction was also filed to stop the auction of the boat but the judge did not grant it.

The government seized the yacht recently after it was abandoned in Falmouth Habour for over a year.