AG raises concerns about criminal cases being heard virtually while defendant overseas

Feb 23, 2025 News

-invites Chancellor, Chief Justice to urgently review the situation

Kaieteur News- Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall SC has raised concerns about magistrates hearing criminal cases virtually while defendants are outside of Guyana.

The Attorney General raised these concerns while delivering remarks at the opening of the Mabaruma Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

He explained that the criminal jurisdiction of the court is territorial, which means that it cannot exercise jurisdiction over persons that are outside of its jurisdiction, that is to say, outside of Guyana. It is for this reason that he contends that conducting criminal cases while the defendant is overseas is not legally permissible.

“We have to carefully look at this situation, as it continues to occur in the magistrate’s court,” he said, directing his remarks to the Chancellor and the Chief Justice, who were present at the event. Nandlall emphasized that “our criminal jurisdiction is territorial.”

The AG added that the facility is there and can be used, in particular when the circumstances demanded.

In an invited comment, the AG gave several reasons as the rationale for this legal principle. For instance, if the defendant is found guilty, the court’s ability to impose and execute a judgment or sentence is affected if the defendant is outside its jurisdiction.

“For example, if a term of imprisonment is to be imposed and a person is to be sentenced, how would that sentence be executed when the person is not within the jurisdiction of the court for him to be delivered to the prison authorities for the sentence to take effect?” he questioned.

Further, he pointed out that if the defendant is to be remanded, enforcing that order becomes problematic when the individual is outside the court’s jurisdiction.

The Attorney General explained that it is for this reason that persons charged with a criminal offence must seek permission from the Court to leave the jurisdiction.

“That permission should only be granted between court dates, in respect of the criminal proceedings to ensure that the defendant returns to the jurisdiction for the next hearing of the criminal case,” the Senior Counsel emphasised.

The AG’s clarification comes on the heels of the wife of former Assistant Commissioner (Ag) of Police, Calvin Brutus, Adonika Aulder’s virtual appearances in court.

The couple faces allegations of money laundering and misconduct in public office tied to financial irregularities totaling approximately $800 million.

Meanwhile, the AG said the government is investing heavily in software to ensure that there are platforms to accommodate e-litigation.

“I just received a notification on my phone that in Saint Kitts, they have just launched an AI program to help the public access help in understanding the laws of Saint Kitts, I did read the story. So, these are important improvements that are taking place across our country and across the region,” he underscored.

(AG raises concerns about criminal cases being heard virtually while defendant overseas)

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Anil Nandlall SC, Attorney General, criminal jurisdiction, Mabaruma Magistrate’s Court, Minister of Legal Affairs

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