Ottawa Court Freezes $20 Million in Cash, Bitcoin Donated to Truckers

The order aims to redistribute up to $20 million donated to the Freedom Convoy to the citizens of Ottawa.

Residents of Ottawa, Canada, have filed a lawsuit against the Freedom Convoy 2022 protesters seeking up to $20 million of the total amount raised in donations worldwide to redistribute to the city’s citizens, The Globe and Mail reported for the first time. .

Then, an Ontario Superior Court judge in Ottawa ordered the freezing of protesters’ funds, both in fiat and cryptocurrency, citing regulated financial institutions and individuals allegedly responsible for custody of bitcoins for the convoy.

The freeze order, also known as the Mareva injunction, tells convoy protest leaders and institutions involved in fundraising that they cannot now “sell, dispose of, dissipate, alienate, transfer” any of the assets raised in donation campaigns, including bitcoin. .

The order lists the protest leaders and the Bitcoin addresses assigned to each and says they are not allowed to move these funds. The order adds that any subsequent Bitcoin addresses receiving funds from the listed addresses will also be targeted and mentions that on-chain analysis can be used.

“We have not received the order and related court documents,” a lawyer representing the convoy protesters told The Globe and Mail, adding that he only learned of the court order through media reports.

A court order from Mareva allows a plaintiff’s attorney to appear alone before a judge in Canada to request that the funds be blocked, according to the report. It is rarely used.

This injunction by Mareva targeting entities known to have assets for the convoy is separate from the federal government’s efforts to seize the same funds, according to the report.

The order states that defendants who disobey it “may be held in contempt of court and may be arrested, fined or have [their] assets confiscated.” It also gives defendants 24 hours to apply for an order granting them sufficient funds for normal living expenses and legal advice and representation.

“Any other person who is aware of this order and does anything that helps or allows the defendant to violate the terms of this order may also be held in contempt of court and may be fined or imprisoned,” the order reads.

The order also gives defendants the right to sell, transfer or dispose of any assets collected to protesters, as long as a minimum of $20 million remains frozen.