Almost two years after he was arrested and charged for fraud, Riviere Sebastian is yet to have his day in court.
When the matter came up on March 25, 2022, the prosecution told the court that they don’t have the file dealing with the matter and the investigating officer Superintendent Matthew Cuffy is “on suspension”.
According to court documents, between February 25, 2020, and May 25, 2020, Riviere Sebastian is alleged to have stolen EC$51,855.80 the property of the government of Dominica.
He was granted bail in the sum of sixty thousand dollars and was ordered to surrender his Dominican passport with Clyde Charles as surety.
Riviere Sebastian is employed in the Fisheries Division and has on several occasions acted as Chief Fisheries Officer. He is represented by attorney at law Wayne Norde. Â
Norde told the court that since the investigating officer is on suspension on a “serious charge” something needs to be done to deal with the matter since its two years in the system. However Magistrate Michael Laudat informed him that since it is an indictable matter only the prosecution who has the right to discontinue it.
“I can’t do anything with the matter according to the law so refer your complains to the relevant authorities,” the Magistrate said. The matter was adjourned to September 22, 2022.