At the top of the news we told you about Bradley Paumen - the American tour operator who could get his bail revoked because he's facing new charges in connection with the Michael Modiri case. Paumen was charged earlier this month for abetment to murder for allegedly hiring a hit on Modiri - so he was on bail for that. But his mechanic Lisburn Anderson is charged along with him. Anderson is alleged to have conspired with Paumen to plant an unlicensed .22 rifle and 150 live rounds in Modiri's car - so that he would get stopped at a police checkpoint, and arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm. That was in in April of 2015.
That is why today he was charged for the perversion of justice and conspiring to pervert justice. But the charge was read before one magistrate this afternoon where he pleaded not guilty - and that's when the Prosecutor indicated that he would like the matter tried on indictment. That's when things got topsy turvy and the matter ended up before another magistrate this afternoon - who read him the charges all over again. Here's how his attorney Rachel Montejo explained what she said is a fatal procedural error:..
Mike Rudon, Ch5
"You are representing Lisburn Anderson. Tell us where we are in terms of that case. We've been here all morning since 9am."
Rachel Montejo, Attorney for Lisburn Anderson
"I've just been retained early this morning. So I came in and I have been presented with two charges information and complaint. One is where he is charge for the perversion of the course of justice - alone and then he is jointly charge for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice along with Mr. Bradley Paumen. Now what is happening is that the one that he is charged alone, he was arraigned this morning and a plea was given and he pled not guilty. Now, the prosecutor got up and stated that this is an indictable matter, but the plea has already been taken. And I made my submission that it is out of time, contrary to sections 20 of the relevant section statute of limitation and the magistrate asked for a two minute adjournment - came back and recused herself. I ask my reasons and she did not provide any, but I am still waiting for that to be vetted out. So the current magistrate was about to rearranged this defendant a second time. I had asked in court whether the court book reflected the plea that had been taken. I mean there was a senior counsel inside the court and other media personalities was also present when his plea was taken. But it was not reflected on the court book as all heard in court today this evening. So there are questions to be answered and I am left with my hands up in the air as well. The matter has been adjourned for the 8th March and regarding a secondary issue, I have to present before the magistrate tomorrow at 10am in the San Ignacio court."
Jules Vasquez
"Your client is accused of planting a gun in Mr. Modiri's car. Did he do that?"
Rachel Montejo, Attorney for Lisburn Anderson
"No comments on that. I have not spoken to my client further than having this application for bail and hearing his plea. I was surprised that since he is on indictment, a plea should not be taken and a plea was taken this morning. It ought to have been recorded, because he stated so and I made a submission why it should then be treated as summary and to be thrown out. Because it is out of time. You understand. And the DPP has all rights to bring this matter, but a plea not ought to have been taken, but it was."
As we told you, the procedural mix up caused hours of delay in the case and the hearing didn't start until after 4:00. It finished at 5:10 before everything could be heard, and so all four accused were remanded into custody overnight. It resumes tomorrow in San Ignacio Court. There were no less than five attorneys present today: Dean Lindo and Herbert Panton for Bradley Paumen, Rachel Montejo for Lisburn Anderson, Kevin Arthurs and Steve Perrera for Hyang Chong Park and Jahan Abadi.
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