Sando judge finds attorney guilty of contempt

THIS morning an attorney was fined $10,000 or ordered to serve two days' simple imprisonment for contempt of court.

Justice Frank Seepersad ordered Cherry Ann Rajkumar to pay the fine by June 30.

The contempt of court arose from an injunction which is currently engaging the court's attention over Rajkumar's protest outside a San Fernando nursing home over treatment she had received there.

The application for contempt against Rajkumar was filed by Southern Medical Clinic Ltd, Dr Rupert Indar and attorney Romney Thomas, who is chairman of the Water and Sewerage Authority and a director of the nursing home.

In a ten-page judgment handed down in the San Fernando High Court, Seepersad said that there was an injunction by the nursing home, Indar and Thomas against Rajkumar, to cease from erecting a banner in front of the nursing home.

Subsequent to the injunction, Rajkumar and her spouse put certain posts on Facebook, the judge said.

Seepersad found the posts breached the injunction orders. He said that in a case of civil contempt, the court can opt to impose a fine instead of imprisonment.

He ordered Rajkumar pay to legal costs as well.

Russell Martineau SC, instructed by attorneys Faarees Hosein, Roger Kawalsingh and Melissa Sinanan, represented the nursing home, Indar and Thomas.