As the preliminary inquiry commenced in the case against broadcaster and leader of the Justice for All Party, Chandra Narine Sharma, 62, of 73 Robb Street, Georgetown, an additional indictable charge of obstructing the course of justice was yesterday read to the accused by Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson. The additional charge, which stemmed from allegations made by the now 13-year-old complainant who accused Sharma of molesting her, stated that on April 15, he willfully attempted to obstruct the course of justice by allegedly removing Primotie Danraj and two other females from their known address to a house at 123 Golden Grove Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara. The allegation stated that the accused attempted to prevent the police from questioning Danraj and the other females for the purpose of an investigation into allegations of sexual offences committed on a 13-year-old girl by Sharma.
Before the charge was read to the accused, the magistrate asked him if he preferred to sit through the proceedings and he responded, “Yes your worship, I prefer to sit”.
Defence Counsel Mr. Nigel Hughes, representing the accused, stated that he does not wish to say anything if the prosecutor had no objection to his bail application.
In response, Police Inspector Stephen Telford, prosecuting, had no objection to the bail application and bail was granted in the sum of $100,000. The prosecutor requested that the case be called again on May 21, since the charges against the five persons who were recently involved in the case will be withdrawn and a joint charge will be instituted. The application was granted by the magistrate.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Susanna Lovell commenced the preliminary inquiry in the case involving the accused who allegedly had sexual involvement with a 13 year-old girl. The proceedings were held in camera, and even the businessman’s wife was prevented from entering the courtroom.
After about one and a half hours , Sharma, along with his head Attorney Mr. Hughes, exited the courtroom and told reporters who were gathered outside that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mrs. Shalimar Ali-Hack had refused the defence submission on releasing the passport of the accused.
Mr. Hughes stated that he made a submission to have certified copies of his client’s passport in an effort to relate evidence to the court. He said if his client’s passport is available to the court, then the defence can prove to the court that the accused was not present in the country at the time of the incident.
The lawyer said he will be moving to the High Court to have the passport released. He said if the DPP continues to refuse the defence submission, there will not be a fair trial. The case will be heard again on April 28.
Standing outside the courtroom, Sharma told reporters that he is still not well and should be in bed resting. He complained that the newspapers have already given him a trial, since things that he was not aware of were published in the dailies before it was even mentioned in court.
When asked about his recently revoked US visa, he claimed that no letter was sent to him by the US Embassy informing him of this. He stated that he only learnt of his US visa being revoked through an article in the Kaieteur Newspaper.
On Tuesday last, Sharma had appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson on one charge of carnal knowledge of a child who was seven years old. Sharma was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded to prison by the magistrate. During his appearance, a huge crowd of people had gathered at the court, mostly women and most in support of the businessman. Police barricades had to be erected to keep them at bay.
Sharma had collapsed on his first court appearance in the prisoner’s chute and had to be rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Later that day he was scheduled to be taken to the prison but it was discovered that the committal order was not signed by the magistrate.
After being remanded to prison the following day, Sharma appeared before Magistrate Susanna Lovell and was granted $2M bail. As conditions of his bail, Sharma was required to lodge his passport and report to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) every Monday and Friday until the termination of the case.
In relation to the same case, five persons, including his son-in-law and three employees, were charged last Friday for allegedly offering inducements to the young girls.
Gizmos and Gadgets owner Ravi Mangar and his security guard, as well as three CNS Channel 6 workers were accused of attempting to obstruct the course of justice and appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson. They were put on $100,000 bail each.
Mangar, 29, of 33 Bel Air Springs, was charged with procuring his security guard to obstruct the course of justice by influencing him to bribe the girls in the matter.
The guard, Mark Reid, 29, of 12 Wellington Street, was charged with attempting to obstruct the course of justice. Meanwhile, CNS Channel 6 Administrator Tyrone Ali, 34, of 714 Cummings Lodge; Sharma’s driver, Doonauth Sharma, 43, of 1075 Golden Grove Housing Scheme; and Raymattie Ramsaywack, 42, of 63 Houston Housing Scheme, were also charged with attempting to obstruct the course of justice. It was alleged that on April 17, Mangar procured Reid to attempt to obstruct the course of justice by bribing the girl.
It was also alleged that Reid, willfully attempted to obstruct the course of justice by offering $2M to all the girls in the matter, as well as a house and land, so that they would not give evidence against Sharma in relation to sexual offences he allegedly committed on them. Their case will be called again on May 13.
Meanwhile, Doodnauth Sharma and Ramsaywack were charged jointly for allegedly removing the girls from their residence to a house at 123 Golden Grove Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, on April 15. It was alleged that they attempted to prevent the police from contacting the girls for the purpose of an investigation into the allegations of sexual offences committed on the 13-year-old girl by Sharma. They will appear in another court on May 21.
Ali, a journalist, is alleged to have willfully attempted to obstruct the course of justice by making inquiries and recordings of those inquires from a sister of the 13-year-old girl on April 18, in the relation to the whereabouts of her and her other sisters, who are all witnesses. He will also return to court on May 13.