Bob Minton
Encyclopedia
During a April 20, 2002, hearing in the Lisa McPherson
wrongful death lawsuit against the Church of Scientology, Minton spoke against Ken Dandar, the attorney representing McPherson's family. In a 26-page affidavit, Minton stated that Tampa attorney Ken Dandar asked him to lie, drew up false court records for him to sign and urged him to generate bad publicity for the Church of Scientology to prejudice potential jurors in the McPherson wrongful death case as Scientology tries to get the wrongful death case dismissed on grounds of serious misconduct by Ken Dandar and his client. Minton's affidavit gave new details about how involved Minton was in the wrongful death case from the start, stating that he gave Dandar more than $2 million to finance the case and paying witnesses to testify against the church. Dandar took the witness stand to explain the origin of Swiss bank checks totaling $750,000 that Minton allegedly gave him. Minton also testified about two financial arrangements in which $800,000 of his money was transferred from Europe to the Lisa McPherson Trust
and that he had kept a portion of that money because he wanted to hide the source of the Trusts funding from the Church of Scientology.
Despite the allegations the presiding judge declined to remove attorney Dandar from the case, stating that she did not believe Minton's testimony, and that he had lied in an attempt to escape income taxes. Six months before she had already remarked that it was irrelevant how much money Minton had put into the case.
In August 2009, John Fashanu
, who in 2000 accused Minton and Ibrahim Babangida
of stealing money from Nigeria, apologized saying "I can say it again and again, that there was nothing like debt buy-back or any billions stacked away in any account anywhere." In 2000, Minton said that Fashanu was given false information by the Church of Scientology
to attack him.
In October 2009, Rinder and Marty Rathbun told the St. Petersburg Times
that Scientology silenced Minton by digging into his financial details and secretly recording conversations. This included the Nigeria allegations in 2000. Rinder told the Times: "There were things that, really, he was worried about and had caused problems for him in the investigation that we had done" and Minton and church reached a private settlement. Rinder, after leaving the church in 2007, described Minton as a friend in a 2009 interview.
, Ireland
of a heart ailment on January 20, 2010, at the age of 63. His funeral was held on the following Monday, at St. Mary of the Rosary Church, Cong, County Mayo
, Ireland. He is buried in Lisloughrey Cemetery.
Lisa McPherson
Lisa McPherson was a member of the Church of Scientology who died of a pulmonary embolism while under the care of the Flag Service Organization , a branch of the Church of Scientology...
wrongful death lawsuit against the Church of Scientology, Minton spoke against Ken Dandar, the attorney representing McPherson's family. In a 26-page affidavit, Minton stated that Tampa attorney Ken Dandar asked him to lie, drew up false court records for him to sign and urged him to generate bad publicity for the Church of Scientology to prejudice potential jurors in the McPherson wrongful death case as Scientology tries to get the wrongful death case dismissed on grounds of serious misconduct by Ken Dandar and his client. Minton's affidavit gave new details about how involved Minton was in the wrongful death case from the start, stating that he gave Dandar more than $2 million to finance the case and paying witnesses to testify against the church. Dandar took the witness stand to explain the origin of Swiss bank checks totaling $750,000 that Minton allegedly gave him. Minton also testified about two financial arrangements in which $800,000 of his money was transferred from Europe to the Lisa McPherson Trust
Lisa McPherson Trust
The Lisa McPherson Trust was an organisation created in 1999 by Bob Minton. The trust was named after Lisa McPherson, a Scientology member who died in 1995 after being in the Church of Scientology’s care for 17 days...
and that he had kept a portion of that money because he wanted to hide the source of the Trusts funding from the Church of Scientology.
Despite the allegations the presiding judge declined to remove attorney Dandar from the case, stating that she did not believe Minton's testimony, and that he had lied in an attempt to escape income taxes. Six months before she had already remarked that it was irrelevant how much money Minton had put into the case.
In August 2009, John Fashanu
John Fashanu
John "Fash" Fashanu is a British television presenter and ex-footballer of Nigerian and Guyanese descent. In his former career, he was a centre-forward, who scored 134 league goals in a career lasting 17 years...
, who in 2000 accused Minton and Ibrahim Babangida
Ibrahim Babangida
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida CFR DSS mni , popularly known as IBB, was a Nigerian Army officer and military ruler of Nigeria...
of stealing money from Nigeria, apologized saying "I can say it again and again, that there was nothing like debt buy-back or any billions stacked away in any account anywhere." In 2000, Minton said that Fashanu was given false information by the Church of Scientology
Church of Scientology
The Church of Scientology is an organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. The Church of Scientology International is the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for the overall ecclesiastical management, dissemination and...
to attack him.
In October 2009, Rinder and Marty Rathbun told the St. Petersburg Times
St. Petersburg Times
The St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
that Scientology silenced Minton by digging into his financial details and secretly recording conversations. This included the Nigeria allegations in 2000. Rinder told the Times: "There were things that, really, he was worried about and had caused problems for him in the investigation that we had done" and Minton and church reached a private settlement. Rinder, after leaving the church in 2007, described Minton as a friend in a 2009 interview.
Awards
- Minton received the Leo J. Ryan award on October 27, 2001 and was the first one to receive the "Alternative Charlemagne AwardLeipzig Human Rights AwardThe Leipzig Human Rights Award is an honor given by the European-American Citizens Committee for Human Rights and Religious Freedom in the USA, which recognizes "efforts towards human rights and freedom of expression in the USA" and actions against what the organization refers to as "human rights...
" in 2000.
Death
Minton died in ClonburClonbur
An Fhairche is a Gaeltacht village in County Galway, Ireland.The village of Clonbur sits between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask. Two kilometres to the west rises Mount Gable where, according to legend, the hordes of Firbolg gathered on the hilltop before their clash with the Tuatha Dé Danann at the...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
of a heart ailment on January 20, 2010, at the age of 63. His funeral was held on the following Monday, at St. Mary of the Rosary Church, Cong, County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
, Ireland. He is buried in Lisloughrey Cemetery.