Judge to rule on admissibility of document on Tuesday
JUSTICE James Bovell-Drakes, the presiding judge in the conspiracy to defraud case, and who is conducting a voir-dire (a trial within a trial) to determine the admissibility of a magisterial document in the case against Abubakir Abdel Bari, will rule on Tuesday next.

Special Prosecutor Mr. Bernard De Santos, S.C., who is appearing for the State in the conspiracy to defraud case against Abubakir Abdel Bari, and Attorney-at-Law Mr. Nigel Hughes, representing accused Abubakir Abdel Bari, have completed their arguments..

Justice Bovell-Drakes conducted the voir dire to decide whether a magisterial collated and certified document in Court is a true copy of the original document of the P.I., which cannot be located by the clerks.

The conspiracy to defraud, contrary to common law charge, accuses Abubakir Abdel Bari and Atta Sankar, with having between the 12th day of December 1992 and August 1993, in the County of Demerara, conspired together and with each other and with other persons to defraud the trustees and beneficiaries of immovable properties situated at 250 Forshaw and Oronoque Streets, Queenstown, Georgetown.

Among other things, the judge will rule whether or not the copy in court is a true copy. Dependent on the ruling of the judge the substantive trial will go ahead.

Several witnesses, including the Magistrate at the preliminary hearing, the now Madame Justice Dawn Gregory-Barnes, have testified at the voir dire which lasted several days.