By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
OMAR Archer was granted $8,000 bail ahead of his intentional libel trial yesterday.
The 50-year-old appeared before Magistrate Kendra Kelly for a bail hearing related to an intentional libel charge brought against him on Monday.
The charge in question stems from a WhatsApp note allegedly recorded by Archer last month, in which accusations were made against National Security Minister Wayne Munroe.
Police said Archer posted the defamatory remarks on social media with the intention of causing shame to Mr Munroe.
However, he has denied the allegations and was remanded to prison on Monday pending his bail hearing.
Upon his return to court yesterday, Archer faced an additional charge of abetment to causing harm.
Prosecutors allege that his defamatory remarks indirectly “instigated”, “procured” and “encouraged” the causing of harm to Mr Munroe, Chakara Davis and two minors.
At yesterday’s hearing, the former contractors registrar in the Ministry of Works pleaded not guilty to the offence and even claimed to have no knowledge of the charge.
Still, the Crown prosecutor, Sgt Vernon Pyfrom, asked for bail to be denied on the grounds that Archer had a pending criminal case of a similar offence and was likely to reoffend after release.
The prosecutor argued that while the charges were not “physical” in nature like murder, etc, they still had far-reaching implications and could cause emotional and physiological damage to the complainant.
In response, Archer agreed that while some statements made in the public domain can be hurtful, it does not negate the fact that people have rights that ought to be protected.
He also suggested that the offence of intentional libel was unconstitutional and even told the court there is a need for law reform in the country.
In his closing submissions, Archer asked the court for leniency and to consider the fact that he has a son who is heavily dependent on him.
“He’s very stressed out by what is going on right now,” he said.
After listening to both arguments, Magistrate Kelly ultimately granted Archer $8,000 bail with one or two sureties and told him to report to the police station nearest to him once a week.
Magistrate Kelly further ordered him not to have any contact with witnesses connected to the case and not to make comments on social media regarding Mr Munroe or Ms Davis.
“Stay off social media, sir,” she said.
Failure to comply with those conditions could result in his bail being revoked.
Archer will next return to court June 14 for trial.
Commenting has been disabled for this item.