BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - AS a result of many persons who claimed that the authorities had left them ‘in the cold’ after giving testemonies in court, and a number of others who were victims claiming they were ‘thrown under the bus’ following police investigations of their complaints, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has promised to address to address those issues.
In recent times, this publication had written and saw media reports of complaints from individuals who claimed that they were being ignored by the authorities after testifying, or were fingered as being the individual who made a particular complaint and were intimidated.
Being aware of the situation, DPP Adlai Smith is seeking to have the problems swiftly resolved as it “affects my work” in bringing perpetrators to justice.
“The witnesses are the ‘Achilles Heel’, they are the weak point of the justice system! With no witnesses, there can be no justice,” Smith told SKNVibes.
He emphasized that perpetrators of crime are aware of their acts, while no justice is being brought against them.
“People will continue to escape the law, and I see those who are the perpetrators of criminal offence are very much alive and aware of that. And they have employed different means of intimidating or trying to get witnesses to otherwise change evidence.,” the DPP explained.
Though he could not provide details, Smith noted that he is interested in a particular matter “because reports have been made to me. And I have my eyes on the ground and feeling information. If something comes out of that, rest assured I will take action once there is evidence”.
During a recently-held press conference DPP Smith raised the issue of Witness Tampering as being a major concern for justice in the Federation and charged that he will prosecute those found culpable.
On the issue of witnesses being let out in the cold after testifying, the DPP acknowledged that “ We can’t solve all of the problems but we’re working legislation to try and mitigate that particular problem. It is still a very, very real problem , something that I am alive to. It is in my best interest as the director of public prosecution to see to it that we get convictions for persons who have committed criminal offenses”.
But as the DPP alluded to, there are still rising concerns of people being scared of going forward to give evidence because rhey fear for their safety and that of their family members.
Because of the fear factor, the DPP said: “People would just run lawless if they have not been doing so already.”
