Arrest warrant issued after Peter Nygard fails to appear in Bahamas court

A well-known Winnipeg businessman is the subject of an arrest warrant after he was a no-show for a court appearance in the Bahamas.

Media sources say Peter Nygard did not attend a mandated court appearance Jan. 28.

Nygard is embroiled in a legal battle over his Caribbean estate, Nygard Cay.  The Supreme Court of the Bahamas seized the estate in October.

At issue is Nygard’s efforts to dredge the sea floor around the estate. According to a story by Maura Forrest in the National Post, it’s part of a bizarre conflict between Nygard, his billionaire neighbour, and environmental groups in the region.

Forrest explained the situation to 680 CJOB in October, saying an environmental group called Save the Bays is owed $3 million in legal fees from Nygard, which led to the seizure.

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“They say that Mr. Nygard has managed to essentially double the area of his estate with this dredging, which they say is illegal,” said Forrest.

“The court has tried a number of times to stop Mr. Nygard from dredging. He has continued to dredge in contempt of court several times in the last five years or so.”

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“The latest development is that the supreme court has seized control of his estate, in part because Mr. Nygard has failed to pay the legal fees of Save the Bays, this environmental group that has been fighting him. ”

WATCH: Nygard shows off their slim fashions

-With files from Sam Thompson