ACTING Chief Justice Ian Chang said, Tuesday, that Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack is the person who has to address the issues of the photos which were taken in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court last week Tuesday by social activist Mark Benschop.

After efforts to contact him over the past week proved futile, Mr. Chang was seen and approached at a fuel station on the outskirts of the city. It was there he offered his opinion on the matter.
Justice Chang pointed out that it is the DPP who will be able to say what charges should be laid against Benschop if it is determined that an offense was committed by the taking of the pictures.
The two Chinese nationals who are charged with assaulting a schoolchild were photographed in the courtroom when they made their appearance before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
When asked for her reaction, through a member of her staff, the Chief Magistrate indicated that she will respond in open court but it is not known if that was already done.

KNOWS EXACTLY
Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary Carl Singh offered that, if a photo was taken in the courtroom unknown to her and without her permission while she was presiding, she knows exactly what she has to do.
The Court Superintendent said, last Thursday, that he was not aware a photo had been taken in the courtroom and the evidence first needs to be produced for him to check and see if an offence has been committed.
Meanwhile, the pictures were widely circulated on Benschop’s website and tagged to several other persons who downloaded and reposted them.
One of the photos was made available to the Chief Magistrate, showing the Chinese husband and wife charged with assaulting the eleven-year-old girl who they had accused of invading their private residence in Stabroek, Georgetown.