Derek Achong
Businessman Adrian Scoon and event promoter Shaheed Abdullah have pleaded not guilty to three charges, over allegedly breaching public health regulations for the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to an event on Scoon’s vessel on Boxing Day last year.
Scoon and Abdullah, who are accused of operating a party boat, hosting a party and gathering in a group of more than 10 in alleged contravention of the then regulations, entered their not guilty pleas as they made their second virtual court appearance before Magistrate Kerianne Byer on Monday..
During the hearing, Scoon’s lawyer Larry Williams noted that after a High Court Judge upheld his lawsuit over a Justice of the Peace (JP) acting unlawfully in granting the T&T Police Service (TTPS) search warrants to search his properties after raiding the event last Friday, his client’s cellphones, laptop and a USB drive were returned to him.
However, Williams noted that investigators kept possession of several documents which should have also been returned.
He noted that evidence obtained through the warrants would have to be excluded from the eventual trial of the case.
Also appearing alongside Scoon and Abdullah were most of the 90 patrons of the event, who were charged with gathering in a group of more than 10.
While most of the group appeared before Magistrate Byer and also entered not guilty pleas, a handful, who were not properly served with the charge via summons, did not appear.
Magistrate Byer noted that a prosecutor from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has not been appointed since the group made their first court appearance before her in early April, and expressed hope that the process would be completed by the next hearing so she could set a trial date.
The cases have been adjourned to October 10.
Scoon, the son of Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon, came under scrutiny after police raided a “Seaside Brunch” event on board the MV Ocean Pelican on Boxing Day for allegedly breaching the COVID-19 regulations, which prohibited the operation of a party boat at the time.
Scoon denied any wrongdoing, as he claimed that the vessel was converted to a safe zone under the health regulations.
Finance Minister Colm Imbert weighed in on the issue, as he confirmed that he had not authorised a special restaurant liquor licence for the vessel or Scoon.
Officials of the Customs and Excise Division then wrote to Scoon’s legal team, informing them that the two special restaurant liquor licences remained null and void and would be cancelled. The licences were subsequently returned.
Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi was also identified in the issue, as newspaper reports revealed that he had a telephone conversation with Scoon, while he (Scoon) was being questioned by police after they stopped the event.
Al-Rawi admitted to having the conversation but repeatedly denied giving Scoon legal advice on the issue or seeking to influence the police’s investigation.
The T&T Police Service (TTPS) applied to compel Scoon to disclose his passwords and biometric data for his electronic devices which were seized by police.
Delivering a judgment in late February, High Court Judge Geoffrey Henderson denied the application under the Interception of Communications Act.
Henderson said that he was of the view that the request was excessive and disproportionate, in light of the fact that investigators were seeking evidence that Scoon advertised the event on social media.
In a judgment delivered late last week, High Court Judge Ricky Rahim ruled that the search warrants for Scoon’s properties were unlawfully granted by JP Oliver Boodhu and ordered that they (the warrants) be quashed.
Scoon was also represented by Chelsea John, while Abdullah was represented by Craig Beepath.
