Maduro for February trial after mystery change at court
Maduro, of Belle Vue, was charged in September 2011 with five counts of using his public office for gratification and five counts of breach of trust in relation to his alleged role in a drug and money laundering ring.
When the defendant appeared before the court yesterday, January 29, 2014 Magistrate Dr Velon John was expected to make a ruling on the investigation of the mysterious change on Maduro’s complaint which saw his matter moved from being one of a summary nature to an indictable offence.
As an indictable offence, the matter would proceed through a preliminary inquiry to determine whether a prima facie case was made for it to be heard before the High Court. Summary offences are heard before the Magistrate’s Court.
Attorneys for the interdicted officer, Stephen Daniel and Ruthilia Maximea of Maximea and Co, previously told the court that they made no application for the matter to be changed to an indictable one.
Magistrate John said the Court has determined that Maduro’s Complaint was changed outside of the precincts of the court and was “done at whatever time but not by the court”.
The court subsequently agreed with Crown Counsel, Leslie Ann Faulkner’s proposal to have Maduro’s matter heard as a summary offence.
Maduro's charges relate to two incidents where BVI Immigration entry stamps were placed in forged Venezuelan passports on June 5, 2010 and on June 29, 2010 at the Road Town Ferry Terminal.
The defendant who had been working with the Immigration Department for seven years prior to his arrest, remains on $90,000 bail with signed surety and will return to court on February 3, 2014 for the start of his trial.
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