Delay hits emergency tribunal
Published:Tuesday | June 29, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Four reputed community leaders detained under the state of emergency went before a review tribunal yesterday to challenge their detention.
However, government attorneys reportedly showed up at the in camera hearing unprepared to start deliberations, forcing the cases to be pushed back to later this week.
"The representative from the attorney general's office attended today and requested an adjournment because she indicated that she did not have the information or materials to allow her to proceed," said Jacqueline Samuels-Brown, the attorney for Michaelius Phipps, better known as 'Zekie', the son of convicted gangster Donald 'Zekes' Phipps.
Attempts to get a reaction from the Attorney General's Department were unsuccessful up to late yesterday.
Rescheduled
Phipps' case is now scheduled for tomorrow, while Donovan Ainsworth, also known as 'Pepsi', and Delano Walker, alias 'Fidel', are scheduled to return to the tribunal on Thursday.
It could not be ascertained when Mark Walters, also called 'Mark 11', who the police say is a gang member from the Allman Town area, will have his case heard.
The four, who have been in custody for more than a month, had their detention extended for another 30 days when the state of emergency was extended until July 22.
They surrendered to the police last month after they were described as persons of interest by the Police High Command.
The tribunal, which is chaired by attorney-at-law Pamela Benka-Coker, was set up to hear objections by persons detained under the state of emergency.