Magistrate Priya Beharry recently dismissed a string of charges filed by the Ministry of Labour against a city businessman, citing procedural irregularities and in two instances, a lack of prosecution.
Businessman Budnarine Meghan faced seven charges following a complaint by a former employee Carl Jacobs. But Jacobs never appeared in court to give evidence. Meghan first had five charges dismissed last month after the court ruled that the charges were filed outside of the statutory limitation period, which is six months and on Monday he had two charges dismissed for want of prosecution.
Meghan faced charges that included failing to produce a record of wages; failing to grant holidays with pay; failing to gave notice of termination contrary to the termination of employment severance act; failure to pay severance allowance; failure to pay a severance allowance; failure to pay a sum in lieu of holidays with pay; and failure to produce a register of holidays.
Meghan was charged in June last year and during the trial information surfaced that the complainant in the matter was the subject of an investigation and had walked off the job.
Meghan was represented by attorney Gino Persaud, while several labour officers had appeared on behalf of the Labour Ministry.