Samir Jaffer Bandali – Linkedin

On Monday, May 30, Canadian Blockchain entrepreneur ,Samir Jaffer Bandali, appeared in the Cayman Islands Grand Court to learn he may face up to 18 months in prison for causing the death of a cyclist, Abele Hiwet (38), by driving dangerously.

However, his Attorney, Jonathon Hughes, argued that, based on a previous court judgment, the starting point for Bandali’s sentence should be 15 months.  Alternatively, the court could consider placing Bandali on 24 home detention instead of prison.

DPP Crown Counsel, Kenneth Ferguson,  said on the night of March 7, 2023, Bandali was out with friends and consumed several draft beers at two bars on the West Bay Road and then on driving along the West Bay Road in his Jeep Cherokee, to go home, he collided with a cyclist in the vicinity of Fidel Murphy’s.

Reportedly, Bandali did not stop at first and only did this when his female passenger began to scream and yelled at him to stop. He did but then, reportedly, went to his apartment.

The female passenger returned to the scene of the collision and when the police arrived she gave an account of what happened to them.

Later, reportedly at around 5am, the police arrested Bandali at his apartment.

He was then taken to the Cayman Islands Detention Centre, where, reportedly he was breathalyzed and his reading was 0.152%.

Ferguson said, the offence made Bandali liable to a fine of ten thousand dollars, or to imprisonment for a term of seven years or both, and be automatically disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for at least three years. He also asked the Court to take into account that Bandali Bandali has three traffic convictions for speeding, in April and August 2019, and in June 2021 he also, left the scene of an accident, his vehicle had no insurance (the certificate of insurance expired in September 2021), his vehicle registration expired in February 2022, and the certificate of roadworthiness expired in April 2022.

Ferguson also noted that Bandali’s final sentence is unlikely to be higher than 18 months because of indications at a previous hearing.

However, Bandali’s Defence Counsel, Jonathon Hughes, asked the Court to consider the starting point for Bandali’s sentence should be 15 months, or the court might consider placing Bandali on 24 home detention instead of prison.

Various character references appertaining to Bandali were read out and Bandali has accepted responsibility for the offence, had expressed remorse and reached out to the victim’s friends to offer an apology.

Hughes said Bandali has been emotionally impacted by the incident and has sought counselling to address feelings of guilt, grief and depression. He is well thought of in the community and has made a significant contribution through his work. 

Various ailments that Bandali is said to be suffering from since the accident were read out by Hughes, including Bandali has a degenerative spinal problem. “One of the consequences was severe shooting pain down his right leg caused by pressure on the nerve and spine.” He has undergone surgery on his back to reduce the pressure on the nerve but, said Hughes, it hadn’t “resolved the issue.”

Hughes concluded that his client has to receive specialist “physiotherapy using a particular specialist machine which is available at one location and he does that three times per week. As well as his own physiotherapy, he’s also on very significant medication……… Medication which the prison authority may be reluctant to have in prison.”

The sentencing of Bandali is scheduled for June 20, 2025.