by Clive Bacchus
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): Lawyers for St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party’s chairman Terrance Drew have agreed to the disclosure request from the Director of Public Prosecutions Valston Graham in the private criminal case filed by Dr. Drew. The filing accuses the People’s Action Movement’s (PAM) candidate Eugene Hamilton of bribery and treating in the run-up to the general elections in June 2020.
Invoking Section 65 of the St Christopher and Nevis Constitution, the DPP had requested in the Magistrate’s Court on February 22 that the prosecution provide its evidence to him for a determination on whether the matter should proceed.
At the Magistrate’s Court on Monday, March 1, Dr. Drew’s lawyers agreed to the request and the matter is scheduled for hearing on March 5, according to counsel for Dr. Drew.
In a press briefing on Thursday, February 25, Mr. Graham told the media that under the constitution he was the custodial guardian of criminal prosecution in the Federation and he was authorized to take over a prosecution instituted by any authority.
“I can continue that prosecution or I can discontinue that prosecution,” Mr. Graham said.
Posts on social media have accused Mr. Graham of being politically aligned due to his acknowledged friendship with the Leader of the People’s Action Movement Mr. Shawn Richards.
Mr. Graham has strongly denied claims of being politically aligned and has offered examples of cases he made decisions on whether to prosecute or not, as further proof of his standing.
