The High Court has lifted the travel restriction imposed on former president Bharrat Jagdeo by Magistrate Charlyn Artiga, according to attorney-at-law Murselin Bacchus who says that his client is now free to travel anywhere.
Magistrate Artiga restricted Jagdeo’s travel during a court appearance last week shortly after she had read him a private criminal charge that he allegedly made racially divisive statements at Babu John, Corentyne. While releasing him on self bail she instructed that he should not leave the country without the court’s permission and should there be an emergency which required him to he was to inform the opposing counsel and the court at least a day before the prospective court date.
Last Friday Bacchus petitioned the High Court to have the restriction lifted and the matter was later heard by acting Chief Justice Ian Chang.
Yesterday the attorney confirmed that Justice Chang on Friday had lifted the travel restrictions and as a result the former president is now free to travel wherever he wants.
In the petition, the attorney contended that the condition would cause “an onerous duty and grave hardship” on the former president, who resides over 75 miles from the Whim Magistrate’s Court “and he can only seek permission to leave the jurisdiction on the days that the case would be called.” It further notes that the magistrate sits at the Whim court on only two days of the week.
The petition also charged that the magistrate failed to take into consideration the possibility that Jagdeo may need medical attention overseas as well as his overseas obligations. In addition, it says the magistrate failed to give Jagdeo’s lawyers an opportunity to address her on any conditions of bail she was considering to impose.
“Your Petitioner is aware of his legal responsibility to appear in Court on whatever dates the case may be fixed for and he has no intention of absconding,” it added.
It was attorney Christopher Ram who filed the private criminal charge in April over controversial statements Jagdeo had made at a remembrance ceremony for late president Cheddi Jagan at Babu John, Port Mourant on March 8.
