The private criminal charges filed against Justice Navindra Singh over an alleged altercation with a motorist, were withdrawn today.
Attorney Glenn Hanoman, who brought the charge, said that the move was not because they did not believe the case had merit, but in the interest of “not bringing the judiciary into disrepute,” as well as “in the spirit of reconciliation and compromise.”
The charges against Justice Singh were withdrawn on the agreement that the police would also withdraw the charges laid against Hanoman’s client, Gavwyn Smith. Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru represented the state in the matter, which was before Magistrate Renita Singh.
Hanoman, along with Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos, had filed charges against the judge after an altercation between him and Smith had led to charges being levelled against Smith.
Five charges were laid against Smith, including one involving Justice Singh.
As a result, the decision was made on behalf of Smith’s counsel, to pursue private criminal charges against the judge, and he was charged on June 22, with making use of threatening language, whereby a breach of the peace may have occurred; willfully inciting or attempting to incite hostility against Smith on the grounds of race by words spoken to him, and obstructing the free flow of traffic by causing his vehicle to remain in the centre of the western carriageway, on April 22, at Camp Street.
Justice Singh was not present at the hearing.
