Convicted status fraudster Robert William Martyn is set to launch an appeal against last week?s verdict, has learned.

And in the meantime, it has also been discovered that Martyn is still employed as a lawyer at Westbury Limited, owned by Canadian billionaire Michael DeGroots, despite having his fraudulently-obtained Bermuda status revoked and not being in possession of a work permit.

Martyn, 42, of Harrington Sound Road in Smith?s, was found guilty last Thursday of conspiring to defraud the Minister of Home Affairs by assisting in the submission of two forged documents along with his father?s status application in early 2000.

The documents falsely stated that Martyn?s grandfather had been born in Bermuda in 1899, a local link which served as a fraudulent basis for both his father?s award of status and ultimately his own.

The appeal?s launch comes as no real surprise, however, after Martyn?s lawyer Saul Froomkin QC issued a damning assessment of Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves? final summation to the jury soon after they retired to consider their verdict.

Addressing Mr. Greaves in exasperated tones, Mr. Froomkin labelled the summation as ?heavily biased towards the prosecution? ? telling the judge he had ?basically asked the jury to convict? his client.

Meanwhile, when contacted yesterday, Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Robert Horton said he was not permitted to comment on anything to do with Martyn?s case or employment status because the matter was ?still within the jurisdiction of the courts?.

However, understands that while the appeal is pending, the status quo is likely to be maintained and Martyn will be permitted to carry on working ? despite not possessing any of the requisite documents.

His right to travel, however, is subject to restrictions.

It is also known that Martyn, on being awarded status, bought a house in Bermuda using a trust company called Paragon Limited as the purchasing vehicle.

It is not yet clear whether he will be allowed to hold on to that asset having illegally avoided Government taxes levied on all non-Bermudians purchasing property.

Chief Immigration Officer Martin Brewer, in compliance with Department policy, would also not speak directly to Martyn?s case yesterday.

But he gave the strongest hint possible in the circumstances that the Canadian national does face deportation if the original verdict is upheld by the Court of Appeal.

?In general, persons who are convicted of indictable offences are asked to leave Bermuda once the courts have completed their work and whatever sentence has been carried out,? he said.

Martyn does face the possibility of up to two years imprisonment for the offence ? although those close to the case have confided that they do not believe a prison term will ultimately be handed down.

Meanwhile, a letter from ?a group of concerned Bermudian citizens? has been received by which questions the legal basis upon which Martyn is still entitled to a pay cheque.

?This topic has been discussed at great length throughout the Island and Bermudians are very upset,? the letter reads.

?This man is a lawyer and should be made an example of to deter other people from trying to do the same thing. He is making a mockery of all Bermudians and the Bermuda Government.?