| The court is ready to proceed with the trial of former Minister of Public Service, Dr. Jennifer Westford, and her personal assistant, Margaret Cummings, who are currently facing fraud related charges in the GeorgetownDr. Jennifer WestfordMagistrates’ Courts.This announcement was made yesterday, after City Magistrate Fabayo Azore overruled a submission citing executive abuse made by Neil Boston, an attorney for Dr. Westford and Cummings.According to the Magistrate,NFL Jerseys Cheap China, the basis of the attorney’s submission were “flawed”. As such, she ruled against the preliminary point out raised by the defence team.In delivering her decision to the court, Magistrate Azore said that the Magistrates’ Court has no jurisdiction to deal with matters of executive abuse. Instead, she said, the court only has power to deal with abuse by the prosecution and with delays in trials.She explained that the case of executive abuse cited,Cheap Jerseys Free, falls in the realm of a supervisory decision and the issue should probably be raised in the High Court.The Magistrate stated,Kyle Korver Hawks Jersey, that after revision of the defence case and application case logs it was made out that the defence had failed to satisfy the court, as it relates to proving their case of jurisdiction.At a November 12, last year, court hearing, Attorney Boston had contended that the institution of criminal charges against the former Minister and her Personal Assistant breaches an amnesty promise made by Minister of State,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, Joseph Harmon, during a June 19, 2015,http://www.airmaxfantasy.us.com/574-New-Balance/, press conference. Boston had stated that Harmon had promised that once the vehicles were returned no prosecution will take place. He had stated that during the press conference, Harmon said, “They can quietly bring them (state assets) back to the Ministry, in which they came from or to the Office of the President (OP). They can park them outside the gate…”Margaret CummingsBoston had said that all the vehicles were returned to the Ministry of the Presidency and in spite of the amnesty, his clients were still charged. The lawyer had made this claim while addressing the court on why court proceedings against his clients should not go forward.However, the Magistrate ruled that the statement made by Harmon was ambiguous. She stated that the court is not sure if what the minister said amounts to an amnesty or pardon.On this notion,NFL Jerseys Cheap, Magistrate Azore told the court that she is not sure why the defence is stating that an amnesty was granted.She then informed a team of high powered attorneys for the minister and her assistant that unless they wished to file any application in the High Court, she was prepared to begin trial.Thereafter, attorney Boston requested a seven-day adjournment to consider the merit of the court’s ruling and to consider whether the defence will file any appeal in the High Court.Police Prosecutor, Corporal Bharat Mangru indicated that he was ready to proceed with trial however, he requested an adjournment date to prepare witnesses.Mangru had argued that an amnesty was never granted by the minister for the return of state vehicles. He had contended that the Magistrates’ court has no jurisdiction in dealing with matters of executive abuse. He had stated that matters of such nature should be dealt with in the High Court.The prosecutor had explained that while the Magistrates’ court has jurisdiction to deal with abuse of process, he stated that the power is limited to delays and fairness of trial as it relates to executive abuse.The former minister and her assistant, Margaret Cummings, were placed on a total of $2M bail after they pleaded not guilty to several charges. It is alleged that between July 17, 2014 and June 23, 2015, Westford attempted to transfer eight state vehicles to her husband, Gary Beaton, Osbert McPherson, Wayne Walker and Delroy Lewis.Cummings was also slapped with four counts of forgery. She also pleaded not guilty to the four charges which alleged that she forged documents for the purchase of the eight motor vehicles.Westford was granted bail in the sum of $800,000, while her assistant was admitted to $1.2M bail. |
