The racial incitement case against former President Bharrat Jagdeo was adjourned this morning after the court was presented with medical records indicating that the President was unwell and was suffering from back pain and other flu like symptoms and therefore could not attend the hearing.
The presiding Magistrate accepted the medical records presented to the court by Mr. Jagdeo’s attorneys and set July 13 date as the date to restart the case.
The lawyers for the former President also asked the court for the prosecution team to present all evidence and recordings to the court so that the case could move forward once it gets going.
PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee at a Monday morning press conference appeared unaware of the former President being ill. Asked about whether the former President had been briefing the party on the case, Rohee said he was told by the former President that he was going to be at court today.
The private criminal charge was filed by Attorney-at-Law and Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram.
Ram is contending that Jagdeo’s statements at Babu John on March 8, 2015 about the beating of drums to drive out one race by another out of office, could result in ethnic violence or hatred as cited in the Representation of the People Act.
Under that Act, the former President could face a fine and prison time, if he is found guilty.
The former President in that speech used words that are known to be derogatory to a particular race.
The Media Monitoring Unit of the Guyana Elections Commission in its first report for the 2015 elections described the Jagdeo statements at Babu John as “racially divisive” .
The Unit said it offered comment on the speech after it was aired nationally on state and private tv stations.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login