Presiding officer charged with obstruction, summons for Lumumba
A SUMMONS was issued yesterday, commanding Presidential Adviser on Empowerment Odinga Lumumba to appear in court on a charge in connection with a fracas that occurred at a polling station during the November 2011 general elections. Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton had instructed the Court Orderly to call for the defendant but  there was no reply.
The magistrate then said she will have to issue a summons for Lumumba because there is no evidence, on the case jacket, that he is aware he had to attend court.
Meanwhile, in the same court, Oneika Beckles, who was the Chief Presiding Officer on Election Day made an appearance, charged with obstructing access to a polling station and was granted $25 bail.
Particulars of the offence said, on November 28, 2011, in the polling station at Lot 455 Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, without authority, she obstructed Gomattie Kalicharran.
Defence Counsel Nigel Hughes requested self-bail, but the magistrate said she has had bad experiences with that and so she opted to place Beckles on $25 cash bail and ordered her to return on May 28.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had, since last December, recommended that Lumumba be charged with assaulting Beckles.