January trial date for civil servants

The trial of two civil servants charged with criminal deception and misconduct is expected to begin in January 2027.

“Barring illness or death, we will be proceeding with this matter on January 18, 2027,” said Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell when the case of Joseph Nathaniel Sobers, a clerical officer from Pie Corner, St Lucy, and Cheryl Leverne Thomas, an assistant accountant of Kingsland, Christ Church, was called in the No. 4 Supreme Court.

The two are jointly charged with attempting to dishonestly obtain $45 000 from Shane Hurley sometime between August 12, 2008, and June 22, 2009, by falsely representing that he was indebted to the Inland Revenue Department in the amount of $375 000 and that payment of the requested $45 000 would satisfy the outstanding debt.

They are also charged that, while serving as public officers of the Inland Revenue Department, they engaged in wilful misconduct amounting to an abuse of public trust by requesting payment from Hurley in the amount of $45 000 for the full settlement of an alleged outstanding debt of $375 000 between the same dates.

Earlier this year, Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale SC, who is prosecuting with Senior State Counsel Paul Prescod, expressed frustration at the delays in getting the case started, stating that the State had been ready to proceed “for years”.

When the case was called on Tuesday, he again indicated the prosecution’s readiness to begin.

Attorney Sade Harris, who represents Thomas, and defence lawyer Sian Lange, who appeared on behalf of Sobers’ attorney, Senior Counsel Andrew Pilgrim, both informed the court that they were ready for trial.

“I will communicate to the other judges that this is a priority matter,” Justice Smith-Bovell stated before setting the fixed trial date.

(JB)