Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton subsequently granted a three-week adjournment.
Last November Persaud and Nigel Hughes who are looking after the interest of the Sacred Heart Church had written to the DPP seeking the appointment of a special prosecutor. But to date there has been no word out of the DPP’s Chambers on the issue and this has caused the trial to come to a standstill.
One witness, Roman Catholic Bishop Francis Alleyne has already concluded giving his evidence. There are around 10 persons still to testify.
It is alleged that on December 29, 2004, Frederick Sukhdeo, with intent to defraud forged a document purporting to be a GuyFlag fire and perils claim for US$2 million ($400 million) for the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church. He is also accused of trying to obtain the said sum of money by virtue of a forged fire and perils claim form.
According to the facts of the case, GuyFlag submitted a bogus claim for payment to its reinsurance agent AON Re and Sukhdeo, who was the head of the sister operation, the National Cooperative Credit Union Limited, was presented as a representative of the church dealing with the fire.
It was when GuyFlag/Sukhdeo allegedly approached a claims adjuster here that the alleged scam was discovered.
When the matter was called on Wednesday in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, neither Sanjeev Datadin nor Winston Murray who are on record for Sukhdeo was present.
In spite of this the magistrate announced that she was going to proceed because a witness was present. Persaud however reminded her of the application.
He told the magistrate that so far they have had no formal word from the DPP although the request was sent since last November.
The magistrate suggested to Persaud that they go to the chambers and attempt to seek an audience with the DPP. Persaud in response said that out of respect they wanted to put it in writing rather than make an appointment to see her.
The magistrate then said that the witnesses have been present for the case on every occasion.
The court was told that Bishop Benedict Singh who is scheduled to appear next on the stand has been making it his duty to go to court although he is not well.
Persaud said that Singh has been in and out of hospital but was ready to give his evidence.
He then requested a two-week adjournment of the matter to see if it could be sorted out. The magistrate said that she will set a date for report and that Bishop Singh need not come on that occasion. The matter will continue on April 18.
Investigations had revealed that the church had no policy with GuyFlag. Sukhdeo, the alleged mastermind of the fraud, was arrested on November 17, 2005 and placed on $50,000 station bail.
He was charged in March of the following year with forgery and endeavouring to obtain upon a forged document and he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on March 21. He was released on $75,000 bail on that occasion.
Since the trial was set in the latter part of 2006, there have been several delays. In one instance there was an adjournment when the magistrate announced that she was giving priority to a narcotics matter since the defendants in the matter were on remand. When the matter came up on March 21 last year the magistrate granted an adjournment when none of Sukhdeo’s lawyers turned up.
In August last, the prosecution opened its case with testimony from Roman Catholic Bishop Francis Alleyne. He testified that when he was appointed Bishop in January 2004, he was responsible for all the Catholic churches in Georgetown.
It has been nearly eight months since evidence was last taken in the matter.
