Adjodha to answer TATT charges May 22

Radio announcer Hansley Adjodha will be called upon to put forward his defence on May 22 against several telecommunication charges against him and his company. Senior Magistrate Rajendra Rambachan overruled a no-case submission by Adjodha’s attorneys Kevin Ratiram and Imran Khan yesterday, clearing the way for him to answer the charges.

Adjodha, managing director of company 21st Century Arts and Entertainment, and Lawrence Cole, managing director of Life Radio, were charged by the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) in 2009 for allegedly breaching the TATT Act. Eleven charges were laid against 21 Century Arts, four against Adjodha and three against Cole.

The State, represented by special prosecutor Sean Cazabon and attorney Natasha Bisram, discontinued two of the charges. It later closed its case and the defence made a no case submission. Yesterday Cole was not present in court for the magistrate’s decision but Ratiram sought and was granted permission for Cole to appear through him. The magistrate adjourned the matter to give the defence time to prepare its case.

The charges allege Adjodha, aiding and abetted Life Radio 99.5 FM Ltd in operating radio transmitting equipment and radio communication services without a licence from TATT. Adjhoda is also charged with failing to pay concession fees from 2007 to 2009 and failing to submit details of annual revenues and information required by TATT relating to broadcast services.

Cole was charged with providing broadcast services and equipment and radio communication services without a licence and concession as required by TATT in 2006 and 2009.