Fontaine Gains Four Days Conditional Bail from Judge Michael Laudat
Dr. Thomson Fontaine is now a free man – albeit for four days only – except a magistrate extends his bail. The police charged the former IMF economist and South Sudanese government official for public incitement before Magistrate Michael Laudat who granted him a four-day conditional bail on Monday, April 25.
Fontaine was arrested after coming into the country through the Melville Airport by policemen who were executing a 2018 bench warrant issued for his arrest for failing to appear in court twice. He was charged on the same case with Lennox Linton, former PM Edison James, Joshua Francis, Nicholas George, and Joseph Isaac. But the case was adjourned indefinitely since 2018.
Fontaine was represented by acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Julien Prevost, Gideon Richards, Cara Shillingford-Marsh, Ronald Charles, and Elue Charles.
Richards argued in Fontaine’s defence that his client was not able to attend court appearances when summoned because of his assignment abroad with the United Nations. He said it was not alright that his client was out of the country for four years, but the circumstances of his overseas employment with a foreign government warranted his absence from Dominica even when he had a court case pending.
Richards urged Judge Laudat to dismiss the case against his client since the court had already postponed the case against the other defendants indefinitely. The judge said this prayer could not be granted since the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court nullified adjourning criminal cases indefinitely, and that Magistrate Asquith Riviere who granted this did it in error back in 2018.
Attorney-at-law Cara Shillingford pushed for Fontaine’s bail and the judge ultimately accepted this. Shillingford said Fontaine would not jump bail given that he is a public figure and he has a lot to contribute to the development of Dominica from outside the prison walls. Former Chief Magistrate Gail Royer was revealed as guarantor for Fontaine’s bail.
Judge Laudat granted Fontaine a four-day conditional bail in the sum of $75,000. His bail will expire on April 29. Following the expiration of his bail – unless extended – he is to surrender his travel documents to the court, report to Mahaut police station twice a week, never grant a media interview nor assign anyone to do so on his behalf, and not travel outside the country without prior court permission.
He was freed from the court at 6:33 pm to the ovation of hundreds of supporters who had gathered outside the court premises. He thanked his supporters and expressed gratitude to the people that rallied round to ensure his release. He urged everyone to be proud of their cultural heritage and continue to fight for peace and equality across Dominica. But he would not talk about his arrest or charges publicly due to the order of the court, or he might violate the terms of his bail.
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