Magistrate who found PM's son guilty of assault fired

The Georgetown Magistrate who on February 6th 2015, found the son of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds guilty on an assault charge has been fired.

Magistrate Geeta Chandan Edmund was on Friday given her marching orders by the Judicial Service Commission just moments after she adjourned the sentencing of the Prime Minister’s son because of the absence of a probation report. It was the second time that the court was not provided with the probation report since the Prime Minister’s son was found guilty of assault by the Magistrate. He was charged with physically assaulting his sister-in-law.

The Judicial Service Commission reportedly fired the Magistrate over a number of alleged infractions including leaving the country without the permission of the Chancellor and absence over sick leave.

The Magistrate had appeared before the JSC with her Attorney and all of the allegations leveled against her were shot down by the duo. It was even explained to the JSC that nowhere in the rules of the court or the public service, does it state that the Magistrate needed to inform the Chancellor of her travels outside of the country or seek his permission for such travels.

The JSC had also leveled allegations over a missing notes but that allegation according to the sources close to the Magistrate was also shot down by her attorney who provided evidence to the contrary.

This was not the first time that the Magistrate had been dragged before the Judicial Service Commission. She was previously suspended from the bench over absence.

Legal minds told News Source that they find it very strange that the JSC would suddenly call the Magistrate forward for a hearing just as she is preparing to hand down a sentence against the Prime Minister’s son when the allegations against her were made months ago.

With the magistrate being fired, the conviction against the Prime Minister’s son will be vacated and he will face a new trial.

Filed: 20th February, 2015