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Businessman and former politician Darrell Carter pleaded guilty to two social security offences in court today. Carter was charged for four counts of failing to pay Social Security for his employees in February, March, April and May, 2014. He had pleaded not guilty when the case first came up in August, but today he pleaded guilty to two of four counts.

In court, Carter asked for another adjournment because he had to let go his attorney and needed another. But the Chief magistrate refused saying that from August he had ample time to get a new attorney. The Chief told him that she was of the view that the matter did not have to go through a trial since the charges are straightforward, and that he either paid the contribution when he was to pay or he did not. Carter tried to present the case on his own and produced some documents showing that he had been making payments to Social Security Board. Carter maintained that he was innocent and maintained a not guilty plea but when the charges were reread to him and that's when he presented to the court a receipt for two payments which was made yesterday for February and March. So, since the record showed he made payments for two of the four months that he was charged with, he was only reread two counts for the months of April and May 2014, to which he pleaded guilty.

The Chief Magistrate imposed the minimum fine of $500 dollars and ordered that he must pay $250 forthwith, in default 2 months imprisonment. Carter was able to pay the first half of the payment and he was free to go home.