Treason hearing postponed again
Magistrate still unwell
Stabroek News
January 28, 2003
The Preliminary Inquiry into the charges of treason against Mark Benschop and Phillip Bynoe was again adjourned yesterday, owing to the absence of the presiding magistrate who is still unwell.
Lawyers for Benschop were told by the Acting Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen that Magistrate Chandra Sohan had relayed a message giving notice that he was still unwell. At the previous hearing defence lawyers were told that he had been stricken with chicken pox.
"This is a very unsatisfactory and regrettable state of affairs," said defence attorney Mortimor Coddett upon being informed of the development.
He further noted that persons in the hierarchy of the judiciary were not commenting on the state of the proceedings, though they were aware that a man's liberty is at stake.
The hearing is now fixed to resume on Monday.
Former television talk show host Benschop is jointly indicted along with Bynoe, former Chief Executive Officer of the Linden Power Company (LPC), who is still to be apprehended by police. Two arrest warrants have been issued for Bynoe.
This is the third deferral since the Inquiry was adjourned last December when magistrate Sohan left the jurisdiction to tend to urgent matters which he said required his immediate attention.
The Inquiry was to have resumed on January 8, however attorneys were informed that the magistrate had still not returned. The matter was subsequently adjourned until January 17, when lawyers were notified of the Magistrate's illness.
