MARGAO
In an interesting development in the Majorda casino case, the Court of Judicial Magistrate, Margao had directed the lawyer representing Mickky Pacheco to produce the medical papers of the former Minister if he has gone out of station for medical treatment.
The court also directed the lawyer representing Mathew Diniz to produce on the next date of hearing memo of the appeal if he has gone in appeal to the High Court challenging the order of the district Court, South upholding the trial court to frame charges against him in the casino case.
JMFC Ashwini Khandolkar told Mickky’s lawyer to produce the medical papers before the court after he was conspicuous by his absence in the court room on Thursday. When his lawyer filed for his exemption on grounds that he is out of station for medical treatment, Assistant Public Prosecutor, Colman Rodrigues objected to the application saying that Mickky should place on record the papers if he is undergoing medical treatment.
As far as accused Mathew Diniz is concerned, his lawyer submitted before the court that an appeal against the order of the district court has been filed in the High Court. APP Colman submitted to the court that the accused should file the memo of appeal before the court to show the bonafides of the accused. Accordingly, the Judge directed Mathew to file the copy of the appeal before the High Court at the next date of hearing fixed on February 5.
The Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao had last year ordered the framing of charges against both Mickky Pacheco and Mathew Diniz in the 2009 Majorda casino case. The charges against the duo has not been framed till date after Mathew preferred an appeal before the Sessions Court, South. The appeal, however, did not find favour with the Sessions court as Mathew’s appeal was dismissed by the court.
