Magistrate Asquith Riviere has adjourned a matter involving former Prime Minister Edison James “sine die” (without a date for resumption) and rejected a request from the prosecution to join the matter together with Opposition Leader Lennox Linton in an alleged incitement case brought by the State.
The court has ruled it had no evidence before it against James.
James, who was out of state when the matter against Linton started, was served to appear in court late last year on his return to the island. The prosecution which is headed by Trinidad & Tobago’s lawyer Israel Khan SC then made an application to have James joined with Linton but Gildon Richards, who represented Linton and James, opposed the application.
After receiving submissions from the prosecution and defense, the magistrate ruled that since Dominica does not have legislation for “joiner” he must in the circumstances reject the request from the prosecution.
However, he stated that the prosecution does have other options if they so wish to proceed with the matter.
As a result, prosecuting lawyer Israel Khan SC asked that since the court had ruled that it had no evidence before it against Edison James that his matter should be adjourned “sine die”.
The request was granted by the court. Linton was absent and excused for the hearing but will return to court on Thursday, February 6th, 2020 at 1 pm. The court had also fixed Monday, February 10th at 10 am, Tuesday, February 11th at 1 pm, Thursday, February 13th, at 1 pm, and Friday, February 14th at 9 am to continue the matter against Linton. He is however excused on February 10th because of Parliament and days that Parliament is in session.
Asked if he was surprised at the decision of the Magistrate, Gildon Richards lawyer for the defense, said, “I came to court with an open mind because both sides presented strong submissions as the Learned Magistrate rightly pointed and it was left to him to apply the law as it [applies] to Dominica… which he rightly did.”
“In the meantime, from what I know and from what I have seen, I hope prudence operates in the minds of the prosecution in relation to Mr. James and also Linton in this matter,” Richards stated.
Dominicans expect the BOOMERANG effect as a result of the public persecution of opposition members or anyone who expresses concern as regards the Corruption going on. Surely, if the court has NO evidence, what is the evil decision to adjourn Sine Die? Edison James, Oswald George, Lennox Linton, Thompson Fontaine are being persecuted wickedly, One should never treat his or her fellowmen with so much hate and contempt to the point where you want to see the person jailed, done away with. Remember what was concocted with those white men, just before elections, who trespassed on Linton’s property to do him harm? Remember the man who was caught in Barbados with a gun? He was on his way to DA to do what? Figure out why all those evil acts against opposition members, Party or non-Party. Dominican are allowing and experimenting with DICTATORSHIP a la Haiti with Baby and Papa Docs. Forget those atrocities, killings, disappearances, Corruption, poverty?
If there is no evidence, just dismiss the case WHY adjourned sine die;
You see, there is no case to answer because there is no case. Even Mr. Khan know that but why should he stop if he can keep charging government with fat fees and expenses. I don’t blame him, is like catching fish with no bait. Honestly, the man who run things have nothing better to do then.
I am not surprised because lies never win. We the people should now demand every cent Skerrit spent on foreign attorneys for a lie he knows he and his police fabricated. I like Lennox Linton as leader of opposition but in the best interest of Dominica I think Mr James needs to do like Mr. Compton, the late PM of St. Lucia did after he retired from politics and had to come and as soon as that was done the UWP won again. So why not give it a try
Now this confirm that the police is acting politically .. that is evidence that there was political victimization of the opposition …. When will thyy arrest skerite????? The man was busted by blasted aljazeera wi???? They caught the man red handed.. what is the FIU getting paid forrrrrrr??? But wtma is that in this place there ner,… they had evidence of men in linton yard wi planting evidence… Where the arrest???????
Go Get Skerrit, he is Not above the law and we had enough of him and his corrupt government reference to the all these1. Bin Bobol, 2. Fertlizer Bobol, 3. Passports Bobol and 4. Red Clinic Bobol.
All of these had to do ith the abuse, or thievery, or corrupted behavior of states funds. It is Hon Lennox Linton that they are after and hate as he exposed the Bobol activities to we the people of Dominica who pay taxes and that our money must be well spent and accounted for.
These Bobols, thievery must be challenged and those found aligned , part of it must be arrested and go before the courts ASAP. These failed DLP government must be seen to go before the courts to account for the abuse and thievery of our states finances. The law must be seen to be working, not just for the poor, working class people, and farmers etc who work an earn hard for their money.
Arrest those abused states funds and the expected management and accountability of our states funds that must not b abused.
We…
Well based on the Al Jazeera report, they have a whole lot of evidence about:
1 who delivered the Diplomatic passport to Diezani Madueke
2.Date it was given to her
3. Who Diezani Madueke bought the house in Manhattan NY for
4. Who occupied the building after the deal was finalized
5. The US has all the evidence and is just a matter of time before they start to pick up some Dominicans. By the way can anyone tell me when was the last time PM visited the US? If so, can you confirm government offices in the US he visited?
The good thing is, the FBI does not fake information like those police of Skerrit faked the arrest of UWP candidates.
My boy, fake FBI agent don’t do the victory dance yet, the best is yet to come with your humanitarian package. I hope you and your brother are cell mates. Remember you spew that garbage already that the PM could not visit USA, get a life lazy parasite. Your life is like a revolving door always active! Find a job or be an entrepreneur and let people enjoy their carnival. I living my life.
All these incitement cases get thrown out. This shows the level of our police system. It is like catching a thief 10 times and he/she escape for same poor police work. Is either our police really bad at their job or corrupt and bring false charges to sway public perception.
Where is the evidence???????
Talk about a witch Hunt!
Dat high price lawyer making a good money…..no evidence
This is worse than de Democrats against Trump
Dem fellas have no evidence against Mr James
FBI AGENT,Skerrit has said over and over again that MADUEKE had a Diplomatic passport,your brain must be close to your waist.I went to school in MANHATTEN 35th street.Give the address of the house in MANHATTEN you say SKERRIT OWN.LYING,TRAITOR as usual UWP.
Your name is a giveaway!!!!
Who mentioned Skerrit?
By de way… Skerrit has the court in his hands….if there was clear evidence you know Lennox and Mr James would have been in a special cell.
BRING DE EVIDENCE NUH ALREADY!
I see a scheme to drain the 2 gentlemen finances while a certain foreign lawyer is swimming in oil.
If de evidence was there then de case would have closed already.
I worked in Manhattan…27th near Madison…… what does that have to do with Mr James case?
Why even take this course? I am no lawyer and do not consider myself to have any legal training, however, I think the average man on the street knows that when there is no evidence against an accused in a legal matter, the matter is dismissed. What are you all going to do between now and the date not yet agreed upon, cook up evidence against mr James?
Please remove this matter hanging over the man’s head and move on.
How could a people trust a government and a police department when Skerrit is deliberately falsify this kind of crap, without any evidence whatsoever? Not only that but he is doing it with the help of CARICOM that should be helping us solve our domestic problems. I say so because one will remember that it was after Skerrit attended a CARICOM meeting in Guyana in 2017, after the arrest of Monfared that led into a massive protest, he called a local station to say that he had received strength from CARICOM and as soon as he gets home he would deal with the problem and surely he did just that by arresting and harassing members of the opposition including Freedomites. So it’s just a big mess with Skerrit and CARICOM
You have no evidence against the man, why is this matter even in court?
Harassment and political persecution at great expense to the State’s treasury.
Vindictiveness is Neverland virtue.