The case regarding former Labour Permanent Secretary Brian Singh has been stood down until this afternoon as close to 3 character witnesses are expected to take the stand.

Singh was convicted by High Court Judge Justice Sitambarampillay Thurairaja of three counts of false pretence.

Singh's lawyer, John Rabuku informed the High Court this morning that they would like to call in two to three character witnesses to show the Court that a custodial sentence would not be warranted.

However, Justice Thurairaja informed Rabuku that while he accepted the application to call in character witnesses, Rabuku needed to consider the fact that character witnesses may not help his client as Singh had a good reference if he was the then Permanent Secretary for Labour.

He stressed to Rabuku that the merit of the case as well as the age of the accused persons and the type of crime were usually taken into account when calling in character witnesses.

The witnesses are to be called in at 2.15pm as part of Singh's mitigation and a sentence is expected to passed in two weeks time.

The maximum sentence for false pretence is five years imprisonment.


Story by: Paradise Tabucala