Trade unionist Lincoln Lewis was yesterday placed on self-bail when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s court on a charge of failing to pay wages as an employer.
The allegation is that on February 28, 2008 at George-town, being an employer of Clifford Blackette, the said Lewis failed to pay wages for the period October 15, 2007 to February 28, 2008; that is, the sum of $180,000 being wages to the said Clifford Blackette.
Lewis pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him by the Acting Chief Magistrate.
The defendant was initially charged with two counts of the offence, the other involving virtual complainant Audrey Hinds. This charge was however struck out by the Magistrate because there was an inconsistency with reference to the date the offence is alleged to have been committed.
In addition, the prosecutor responsible for having drafted the charge was not present in court, nor was the virtual complainant.
The attorney who represented Lewis made an application for his client to be sent on his own recognisance. According to the lawyer, the defendant is a well-known trade unionist throughout the region and further afield. The attorney’s application was granted and his client was subsequently admitted to his own recognisance and told to return to court on December 28.
