Magistrate rejects bid to halt MV Barima murder case

Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir on Monday rejected an application by the defence to stop the murder case against three Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) employees charged over the deadly MV Barima tragedy. He ruled that the parallel Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the tragedy did not constitute an abuse of process.

“I say therefore, and this is my ruling, that it is not an abuse of process to have these proceedings conducted in this court,” Magistrate Mohabir declared at the Charity Magistrate’s Court.

The ruling clears the way for the paper committal to begin on November 16 at 10:00h. The magistrate has scheduled December 14 for his decision on whether the accused should be committed to stand trial at the High Court or discharged.