Mayor’s ballot box case put off

For the fifth consecutive hearing yesterday, Atherly’s trial was pushed back for another month — until after Carnival — before it comes up for hearing again in the San Fernando High Court.

Yesterday, when the matter was called at the Second Criminal Assizes, where another trial is in progress, presiding judge Anthony Carmona said that the court was occupied for the rest of the month with other matters.

Carmona transferred the ballot box tampering case to the Third Criminal Assizes for March 6.

Yesterday, several councillors and employees of the San Fernando City turned up in anticipation of the start of the trial, along with Atherly’s relatives.

State attorney Angelica Teeluck-singh said the State was not ready to proceed with the case, as it needed time to examine certain materials.

On the last hearing, Atherly’s attorney — Senior Counsel Gilbert Petersen — had informed the court that he made legal submissions to Director of Public Prosecutions Geoffrey Henderson on the case.

Several members of the media who are expected to be called as State witnesses also turned up for yesterday’s hearing.

The charge against Atherly alleges that he interfered with a ballot box during the 2002 General Elections. Atherly was the campaign manager for Minister in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Diane Seukeran, when the offence is alleged to have been committed. Seukeran had contested the San Fernando West seat for the People’s National Movement.

The charge arose out of an incident at a polling station at the Mon Repos Fire Station on October 4, 2002, when special voters had cast their votes in the 2002 general elections. Atherly is accused of interfering with Special ballot box 2648 at the Mon Repos Fire Station, without lawful authority.