Dear Editor,

THE Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). What is so special about this agency or group of persons. One would have thought they possess the ability to investigate these many, many white collar crimes, institute charges, and prosecute in any court of law with the main objective being about conviction.

But looking back, the amount of cases that are being dismissed on legal technicalities are simply because the charges being laid are bad in law, and the prosecution witnesses absent, the Prosecutor has failed to prove its case or the Prosecutor is absent from court.

The amount of persons charged in the many fraud cases and the hundreds of millions involved are reasons for all to be concerned. It is certainly disturbing when one reads about a Prosecutor being absent from court on numerous occasions, thereby causing the case to be dismissed.

During my training at the Eve Leary Police Training School, we were told repeatedly that Court takes precedence over all other Police duties, a doctrine that all ranks must subscribe to. I am not sure what the recruits are being taught currently by the instructors at the many Police Training Schools now.

But what is evident now is that policemen and women (ranks) are often late for court or absent, knowing fully well that they had cases to be heard on that date.

I can remember that only when a rank is on Sick Leave, he or she may be absent from court, and a Medical Certificate would have to be shown to the Magistrate by the Prosecutor. Off duty or Annual Leave may be deferred until after you attend Court. Of course, those were the days when ranks would pride themselves in being dressed in their uniform, and give evidence and be cross- examined by both the Prosecutor and the Defense Counsel, and would cut a forlorn figure and look very dejected when the Judge or Magistrate’s verdict is ‘not guilty’.

What we are experiencing currently is that most Public Officials, both seniors and juniors, do not have regards for the public, or more so, moral values and ethics are no longer their watchword. For a lot of them, divine intervention is needed.

It is surely difficult to suggest a reason or reasons why this Special Prosecutor did not attend court on the day in question, and on previous dates, but by now, the Subject Minister should know. The general public has a right to know what are the special reasons this Special Prosecutor from the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) was absent from court, and as a result the dismissals in this high-profile case, for the want of prosecution, this nation must know.

Regards,
Archie Cordis