Leave granted for affidavit
Stabroek News
July 31, 2002
Chief Justice Carl Singh yesterday granted 14 days leave for attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes to file an affidavit in response to the motion seeking to prevent acting Chief Magistrate, Juliet Holder-Allen, from presiding over the preliminary inquiry into the charge of treason against Mark Benschop and Phillip Bynoe.
Last Wednesday, the Chief Justice granted the order nisi on an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), on the grounds that it would be unreasonable and a breach of natural justice for Holder-Allen to proceed with the matter. The application was filed on behalf of the DPP by Senior Counsel Ashton Chase and attorneys Khemraj Ramjattan and Rafiq Khan.
Hughes further indicated his intention to raise preliminary points regarding what he said were a few procedural errors relative to the said application.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Doodnauth Singh said that he had no objections to Holder-Allen's wish to retain private counsel in her defence.