June 1 is the date set for the opening of the Criminal Prosecutions Service in Antigua and Barbuda.
Minister of Legal Affairs, Attorney General the Hon. Steadroy Cutie Benjamin said that the Director of Public Prosecution is working along with members of the Police Force, Immigration Department and Labor to establish the Criminal Prosecutions Service by the second quarter of the year.
Benjamin added that already, the staff complement within the DPP office has increased.
This, he mentioned will further ensure that manpower is in place, to make certain that justice is adequately delivered so that innocent persons will not be brought before the court.
The Attorney General explained the process. “The file will be brought to Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, he and his team will examine the file to discover first of all whether there is sufficient evidence upon which to lay a charge, in that case before charges are laid they must be satisfied that there is sufficiency meaning there is a responsible prospect of success in prosecuting the case.”
Minister of Legal Affairs continued that persons will not be charged on suspicion, but will be charged and brought to court if there is evidence upon which a jury or Magistrate can act upon to make a decision.
Police Prosecutors will be brought under the umbrella of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
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Who will prosecute for ONDCP, IMMIGRATION, FISHERIES, ENVIRONMENT, CBH, etc…..
Many men in Antigua are falsely accused of crimes they didn’t commit. I’m glad the government is recognizing that we need a better process to protect the rights of those who are falsely accused. Now the government needs to pass legislation to severely punish those who make false allegations and false police reports.
What difference will it make? Young Drivers drive anyhow, police don’t even care. Wish then they had this before, you AG would be in 1735 looking out….
That country running lk a ship without a roddar, please. Do as you lk & maybe one day you might get caught.
This is a another step in the right direction.
I thought they were to remove the police from prosecutions!
This government is a real waste of time!
I am so proud of this work, I reviewed a few cases there and how on earth could you charge someone in such a situation when there are no evidence at all?
Some officers just rush to charge because I do not like this or that or this an that like to “farm shit” is one reason one officer charged an individual. No evidence, no in depth knowledge of law; criminal law, criminal procedure, constitutional law, yet you are trusted to conclude probable cause or not, and to write a prima facie argument in a charge?
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