Today (Thursday February 29) is the day when suspended Superintendent of
Police Ray John and his former partner, Shakema Charles will know if the trial
against them will move on or be dismissed.
Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Shannon Jones-Gittens is expected to
give the ruling on the no-case submission Defense Attorneys Hugh Marshall for
John and Michael Archibald for Charles would have filed stating that their
clients should not stand trial because there is insufficient evidence tying them to
the crimes.
John and Charles are on trial for allegedly conspiring with Vincentian resident
Lonzel Jones to forge passport bio pages using unauthorized Multi-Layered
Infilling Sheets between January 1 and April 7, 2018.
According to media reports, Charles, who worked at the Antigua and Barbuda
Passport Office, is accused of conspiring with John, who allegedly received 16
of the infilling sheets.
Evidence presented in court suggests that John and Charles provided infilling
sheets and other documents to Jones in St Vincent.
John had reportedly contacted Jones some time prior and hired him to create
fake passport bio pages for persons wishing to purchase land, promising him
substantial compensation.
Witness testimonies indicate that John asked a longtime police friend,
Superintendent Lisborn Michael, who was traveling to St Vincent in April, to
deliver an envelope to Jones without disclosing its contents.
Jones then created the documents and delivered them to John’s nephew, Geraldo
James, but the transaction was intercepted by Vincentian police.
