Further hold-up in MP's case

Published: Saturday | January 10, 2009


The St Thomas police will wait until next week to serve summonses on Member of Parliament and Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, James Robertson.

The summonses have been prepared since Tuesday but the police have so far failed to contact Robertson even though he visited Norris in his West St Thomas constituency on Wednesday.

According to the police, they were initially told that Robertson would be touring the constituency but were later informed that the tour had been cancelled.

However, a Gleaner reporter was with Robertson for the almost two hours that he spent in Norris, Wednesday morning.

Going to Jamaica House

Since then, the police have said they would be taking the summonses to Jamaica House where Robertson's office is located.

But late yesterday, Superintendent Jonathan Morris, the commanding officer for St Thomas, told The Gleaner that the police had not yet travelled to Jamaica House and it was likely that the summonses would not be served until next week.

Robertson is expected to be charged for the alleged use of abusive language and obstructing the police in the execution of their duties.

He has rejected the allegations and indicated that he is willing to go to court to clear his name.

The allegations relate to an incident last Saturday when Robertson travelled to Norris to retrieve a man who had been shot by the police.

The police claim the man, Rameish 'Ric' Simpson, was wanted for questioning in connection with several crimes.

However, Robertson has alleged that Simpson has been marked for death by corrupt cops.