Justice For All (JFA) Party Leader, Chandra Narine Sharma, yesterday returned to court for report into the matter of obstructing justice. He appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson and it was expected that a joint charge of obstructing the course of justice be instituted towards him and his employees, but the prosecutor was not in possession of the file.

Police Inspector Stephen Telford, prosecuting, said the file is still at the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Defence Counsel Mr. Nigel Hughes questioned how long the file was sent to the DPP office and whether it is an attempt to humiliate and embarrass his client.

The lawyer noted that none of the officers investigating the matter was present in court. He requested a date for a peremptory report and stated that the police cannot have citizens in suspense.

In response, Telford said the file was sent to the DPP office as soon as the case was first called.

He said the officers were not in court as they were out of the jurisdiction attending to other criminal matters.

The case was adjourned to June 9.

Sharma will also appear in court on May 25, as the preliminary inquiry in the carnal knowledge case continues.

Last April 20, Magistrate Robertson refused bail for Sharma after she read a charge to him that said between July 23, 2003 and July 23, 2004, he had carnal knowledge of a girl under seven-years-old.

Bail was granted the following day in another court in the sum of $2M and the preliminary inquiry subsequently commenced.

Sharma again appeared in court on April 26 and a new charge of obstructing the course of justice was read to him by Magistrate Robertson.

Particulars of that charge said on April 15, he willfully attempted to obstruct the course of justice by removing two of the girls at the centre of the allegations against him from a house in Robb Street and taking them to one at 123 Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, in order to prevent them from being questioned by the police in relation to the allegations.

He was released on $100,000 bail for this matter and it will be called again on May 21.