Danville Walker, OCG court battle put off

Barbara Gayle, Justice Coordinator

The court case involving former commissioner of customs Danville Walker has been put off until next year.

A Full Court comprising three judges was this morning expected to hear an application brought by Walker, who is challenging an order from the Office of the Contractor General (OCG).

However, the case could not be heard as one of the three judges, Marva McDonald Bishop, is the wife of Keith Bishop, one of the lawyers representing Walker.

The case has now been set to be heard on the 13th and 14th of January.

Walker took the matter to the Constitutional Court, after his application was dismissed by both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.

The former customs boss is questioning the OCG’s authority under the Contractor General’s Act to probe the Customs Department.

He is also challenging a recommendation from the Contractor General that charges be brought against him.

Walker was charged following a ruling by the Director of Public Prosecutions, after the Contractor General wrote to her complaining about his lack of cooperation in a probe into breaches by the Customs Department.

The Customs Department had approved the exportation of scrap metal in contravention of a ministerial order.

Walker is charged with failure to comply in the prescribed time with a request from the OCG and obstructing an investigation of the Office.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court.

If convicted, Walker faces a fine of $5,000 for each of the two charges.

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