Chin's testimony postponed

Rodney Chin, the former co-accused in the Cuban lightbulb controversy, did not testify at the corruption hearing as expected today.



Former junior energy minister Kern Spencer and his former personal assistant Colleen Wright, are on corruption charges in connection with the project.



Mr Chin is now expected to testify tomorrow.



Defence lawyers insisted that Chin’s attorneys, Richard Small and Heron Dale, not be present in court at the time of his testimony.



The defence lawyers raised the objections because Small and Dale have been served with subpoenas to testify at the trial.



As a result, the defence lawyers argued that the two attorneys should not be present to hear Chin\'s testimony.



Small and Dale had represented Chin when he was charged jointly with Kern Spencer and Colleen Wright in connection with the lightbulb project.



The defence wants the two lawyers to testify as to the circumstances under which Chin became a Crown witness.



Following the objections, the Clerk of Courts informed Senior Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey, that the police had served the subpoenas on Small and Dale, while they were walking along the corridor of the courthouse.



According to the clerk, the lawyers were not properly served with the subpoenas because such a document could not be executed on persons in a public building like a courthouse.



Defence lawyer Patrick Atkinson, said he had authority to show that the lawyers could be served the subpoenas on the premises.



Senior Resident Magistrate, Judith Pusey, then adjourned the case and told Mr Atkinson that he should present her with the relevant authority tomorrow.



Earlier, Mr Atkinson drew the ire of Resident Magistrate Pusey.



He was insisting that the Resident Magistrate enter into the records, his objection to the Companies Office of Jamaica being allowed to keep certified copies of documents entered into evidence.



Pusey had admitted the documents, but said she was not aware whether the statute establishing the Companies Office allows the court to keep certain original documents.



The judge then ruled that the original copies remain with the Companies Office, but the defence disagreed and Atkinson wanted his objection recorded.



However, resident magistrate Pusey, who had heard similar remarks countless times during the trial, took offence saying she would not be bossed around.



“I know my job. Please allow me to do it,” she said: “I am not a kindergarten teacher trying to teach first form.”



Spencer and his former personal assistant, Colleen Wright, are charged with corruption and money laundering arising from the implementation of the Cuban light bulb project, which began in 2005.



Spencer is accused of setting up companies to benefit from the contracts.