THE criminal charges against Justice Navindra Singh were yesterday withdrawn by Magistrate Renita Singh on the request of Special Prosecutor Glenn Hanoman.Justice Singh had legal action filed against him by policeman, Gavyn Smith, for the use of threatening language, words which incite racial hostility, and for obstructing the free flow of traffic along a main carriageway.
However, Prosecutor Hanoman yesterday moved a motion for the matter to be withdrawn against Singh, since the police had also dismissed criminal charges filed against Smith.
The allegation stemmed from a heated argument at a traffic sign in early April between Smith and Singh on April 12, 2016.
Singh had caused his motor vehicle to remain in the centre carriageway of Camp Street, thereby obstructing the flow of traffic, in contravention of Section 60 of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02.
On the same day, the policeman claimed that Singh used threatening language against him. The policeman alleged that Singh also threatened to shoot him.
Smith further claimed that during the encounter, the judge used words that incited or attempted to incite hostility against him, on the grounds of race.
The police officer also faced four charges, based on allegations made by the judge. Those charges are: The use of indecent language; having a prohibited amount of tint on his motor vehicle; dangerous driving; and failure to observe the traffic signals.
The prosecutor stated that based upon the merit of the police upon dismissing their charges against Smith, it was only fair that the judge be subjected to the same.
Hanoman explained to the court that if the matter were to be tried, it would have caused damage to the judicial board and the judge’s character also.