Published 6 February 2022
Basseterre
Buckie Got It, St.Kitts and Nevis News Source
Antigua: DPP found guilty of professional misconduct
professional misconduct
Latrishka Thomas
Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh is reportedly expected to take over the position of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Antigua and Barbuda, as Anthony Armstrong proceeds on special leave.
Armstrong, who is a native of Jamaica was found guilty of professional misconduct by the country’s legal disciplinary body – the General Legal Council (GLC) – for signing a document knowing that his client was not physically present.
Attorney General Steadroy Benjamin said in an interview with a local media house that Armstrong will proceed on special leave to appeal the disciplinary charge against him.
“As of Monday, he will no longer be in the position. He will be given an opportunity to prosecute his appeal. Someone has been identified to act as Director of Public Prosecutions in the interim and the office will continue to flow as it ought to in the circumstances,” the AG explained.
While the AG said it was too early to confirm the individual expected to take over, sources close to Loop confirmed reports that Walsh, who is the current Chief Magistrate in the country’s lower court is likely to take up that position.
Meanwhile, Armstrong’s leave is expected to last for three months in the first instance and could be extended up to one year. He will not be able to function as DPP until the matter is complete.
According to a report by the GLC, Armstrong had represented his client Michael Adams in the purchase of three properties between 1999 to 2002 during which time he resided in the United States.
However, in 2003, Adams was imprisoned in the United States.
Adams told Loop he had been imprisoned for 14 years and it was during that time that he accused the attorney of selling his properties without his consent and forging his signature.
“He is pretending to be a sheep but he has wolf behaviour,” he remarked, maintaining that the properties were sold without his consent – an allegation that the legal council said they were not satisfied had been proven.
“We are not satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that the Complainant did not instruct the attorney to sell his three properties and that the signatures of the transfers so not belong to the complainant, “the report read.
The council however reprimanded the attorney for signing as a witness knowing that Adams, who was in prison in the United States at the time was not physically present.
The council described the attorney’s actions as being “the height of recklessness” and a move that could discredit the legal profession.
“By witnessing a legal document, the witness is saying that he saw the person sign same which was not true,” the report read.
Armstrong has refrained from making a public comment on the matter.Loop is better in the app. Customize your news feed, save articles for later, view your reading history and more. Click the links below to download the app for Android and IOS.
