– PI deferred again
The Preliminary Inquiry into witness tampering charges against Chandra Narine Sharma, Ravi Mangar and four of their employees was deferred again yesterday when Magistrate Geeta Chandan Persid-Edmond ruled that the circumstances of the case had changed when Attorney-at-law Sanjeev Datadin was appointed special prosecutor.
In handing down her decision, Magistrate Edmond acknowledged that the circumstances in the case were different since Datadin would be presenting the state’s case.
The state was then granted an adjournment until Friday to present its case.
Datadin told the court that he was now entering an appearance on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and asked the magistrate to grant him a reasonable time to prepare the witnesses.
Further, he said he was in possession of the file and assured the court that he would be ready in the shortest time possible.
However, Attorney-at-law Vic Puran made an application for the charges to be dismissed since the prosecution was still not ready to begin. He said from the inception of the case, DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack had entered an appearance and indicated on that occasion that the state was ready to present its case.
However two months later, he contended, the PI is yet to begin.
He added that the DPP waited until the magistrate was on the verge of dismissing the case to have Datadin enter an appearance. He said the latest move is one in a series aimed at causing embarrassment to Sharma.
Defense counsel Nigel Hughes raised the issue of the prosecution not having the file in its possession. Further, he said on Friday when the case was called up the magistrate was lenient and he added that the actions of the prosecution showed disregard for the inclinations of the magistrate. Additionally, he said that the DPP should have indicated to the court on the last occasion that a special prosecutor was going to be appointed. He urged that the case should start or be dismissed.
On the other hand, Datadin said that when the case was first called the defence team had approached the High Court so as to have adequate time to prepare its case. Similarly, he said, he should be shown the same consideration.
He added that he is the new prosecutor and his application was for a reasonable opportunity to present his case. He said this action in no way infringed or prejudiced the rights of the defendants in the matter.
The matter was then adjourned and the prosecution is expected to begin presenting its case against the defendants on Friday at 1.30 pm.
Meanwhile, the carnal knowledge matter against Sharma continued yesterday afternoon before Magistrate Susana Lovell. The virtual complainant in the matter gave her testimony after which she was cross-examined by defence counsel. The cross-examination is expected to continue today.
Sharma is accused of having carnal knowledge of a 13-year-old girl and was released on $2 million bail by Magistrate Lovell.
In the witness-tampering charge, Sharma, Gizmos and Gadgets owner Mangar, his guard Mark Reid, Channel 6 administrator Tyrone Ali, Sharma’s driver Doonauth Sharma and Raymattie Ramsaywack were charged with attempting to obstruct the course of justice by offering inducements to the girls at the centre of the carnal knowledge charge against Sharma and were each placed on $100,000 bail.
