Passport fraud saga continues: Defence asked to file additional submissions

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Suspended Superintendent of Police Ray John (File photo)
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By Latrishka Thomas

Suspended Superintendent Ray John and his co-accused Shakema Charles remain in suspense as Magistrate Conliffe Clarke has delayed his decision on whether to dismiss the case or refer it to the High Court for a second trial.

Instead of delivering his ruling yesterday, the Magistrate adjourned the matter to allow the defence to file supplementary submissions.

The case, which began in 2018 with allegations of conspiracy to forge passport bio pages using unauthorised Multi-Layered Infilling Sheets has evolved.

Earlier this year, the pair seemed to have escaped justice when High Court Judge Justice Tunde Bakre freed them after a three-week judge only trial. However, this reprieve may be shortlived as the prosecution pushes for a new trial.

John and Charles face revised charges, with John shouldering two additional counts of receiving the unauthorized sheets.

Defence attorneys Hugh Marshall and Michael Archibald are fighting tooth and nail to have the case dismissed or, at the very least, tried in the Magistrates’ Court rather than the High Court. They filed submissions a few months ago.

Magistrate Clarke, seeking additional information on two points from their submission, has given the defence 14 days to file the required documents.

The accused’s now waits with bated breath for November 15, when Magistrate Clarke will deliver his ruling.

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