Deputies to face Royal Court

Saturday 21st February 2009, 9:59AM GMT.

DEPUTIES Geoff Southern and Shona Pitman will be sentenced by the Royal Court after pleading guilty to breaking the Public Elections Law.

The Magistrate’s Court yesterday declined jurisdiction because the charges faced by Deputy Southern placed him outside the sentencing power of the court. And the maximum potential fine he could face is £40,000, the court heard.

Relief Magistrate Peter Harris told the court that it was in the interests of justice to also commit Deputy Pitman’s case to be heard in the same court at the same time.

Both face charges of breaking the Election Law by assisting in the completion of, and in Deputy Southern’s case delivering, application forms for postal votes during the run-up to November’s Deputies’ elections.

• Picture: Deputies Geoff Southern and Shona Pitman

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