Case against businessman who allegedly forged Portia's signature again delayed

Businessman  Peter Sangster who has been before the court for the last seven years for allegedly forging the signature of former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller was yesterday ordered to return to the Home Circuit Court on March 10 next year.

The case was adjourned because the prosecution was not ready to proceed with the trial.

Attorney-at-law Hugh Wildman who is representing Sangster spoke out against the long delay in having the case tried.

Wildman told the judge that he was contemplating taking the case elsewhere as his client's  constitutional rights were being breached because of the delay.

Sangster's bail was extended.

Sangster, 54, who is the managing director of Jamus Communications Limited was charged in March 2017 with obtaining money by false pretence, uttering forged documents and forgery.

It is being alleged that between January 2011 and August, 2013, Sangster solicited and obtained over US$600,000 from the chairman of the company, promising to provide a waiver for funds owed by the company to the Universal Service Fund (USF).

It is further reported that in August 2013, Sangster presented the promised waiver allegedly signed by the then prime minister.

When the document was tendered by the company to the USF for it to be enacted, it was discovered that the signature was forged.

Sangster was subsequently arrested and charged.

-Barbara Gayle

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