Judge rejects no case submission in passport fraud trial

By Zaya Williams

The defense’s attempt to have the case against suspended Superintendent of Police Ray John and his former partner Shakema Charles dismissed entirely has been unsuccessful.

Despite arguments from defense attorneys Hugh Marshall and Michael Archibald, who filed a no-case submission citing insufficient evidence, the judge ruled that the case would proceed.

John and Charles are charged with allegedly conspiring with Vincentian resident Lonzel Jones to create fake passport bio pages using unauthorized Multi-Layered Infilling Sheets.

Charles, formerly employed at the Antigua and Barbuda Passport Office, is accused of collaborating with John, who is also charged with receiving 16 infilling sheets.

The prosecution presented witness statements, text messages, and testimonies indicating that John contacted Jones to create fake passport bio pages for individuals seeking to purchase land.

With Charles’s assistance, John allegedly sent the necessary documents to Jones through a friend, Lisborn Michael, from the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda.

However, police intercepted Jones and John’s nephew, Geraldo James, during a transaction involving the final documents.

Despite the evidence, the defense argued that the case against their clients was weak.

Justice Tunde Bakre, however, disagreed and ruled that John and Charles must answer to the charges.

The defense then raised another application, claiming that the indictment was flawed as two of the charges cannot be tried by the judge alone. The judge is expected to decide on this matter next week.