Ex-THA man charged with indecent assault

A FORMER member of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) appeared before a Scarborough magistrate yesterday charged with indecent  assault. The man appeared before Senior Magistrate Annette McKenzie in the First Court charged with indecently assaulting a social activist on May 9, 2004. The charge was laid by detective Sgt Garfield Moore of  the Scarborough CID. The accused was represented by attorney Thomas Cunningham. Appearing quite relaxed, the accused appeared in court dressed in a two-piece moss- green suit and a tie.

The accused was recently served with a summons to appear in court on the indecent assault charge. The magistrate enquired of the prosecution why they proceeded via summons, to which prosecutor Cpl John Morrison replied that this was done on instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The matter was laid indictably, but both the prosecution and Cunningham requested a summary trial and the accused subsequently pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Cunningham made a formal application for full disclosure of documents and/or statements (whether oral or written) from the prosecution, made by the defendant to the police. The defence also called for the identity of two witnesses whom the prosecution intends to call in the matter. After getting the concurrence of both the prosecution and defence, McKenzie adjourned the matter for April 18.