GOVERNMENT LOST OUT on some much-needed money yesterday when some of the computers and printers at the District “A” Magistrates’ Court malfunctioned.
As a result, people who attended the Traffic Court could not be fined forthwith because receipts could not be printed.
With the court having been closed on Tuesday to facilitate industrial cleaning in some sections of the building, it was estimated that over 200 people attended court yesterday.
From before 9 a.m. scores converged on the compound in anticipation of having their cases dealt with.
However, they were forced to wait over an hour and a half, as neither the computers nor some of the administrative staff were available for the scheduled 9 a.m. start.
It wasn’t until after 10:30 a.m. that those issues were addressed and court was allowed to start.
Even then, the thousands of dollars which would have been expected to fill Government’s coffers from the customary forthwith fines were not collected.
DAILY NATION investigations revealed that instead of having to pay those fines by the end of the day or face imprisonment, the guilty parties were instead given until February 8 to pay.
One man in his 40s, who said he had been present at court since 8:30 a.m. but whose matter was not heard until almost midday, described it as unacceptable. (RB)
