Up to late last night, Government minister James Robertson was yet to be served summonses, three days after he allegedly committed misdemeanours during a confrontation with a police team in Norris, St Thomas.

Late yesterday, police sources said summonses had been prepared for Robertson to appear in court to answer charges of use of abusive and calumnious language to police and obstructing the police in the execution of their duty.

Jonathan Morrison, superintendent of police in charge of St Thomas, said:

"We are doing the paperwork and then we will have to locate him to serve the summonses on him and we will do so as soon as the opportunity presents itself."

Robertson, a minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister and the member of parliament (MP) for West St Thomas, is accused of committing the misdemeanours when he went to St Thomas to rescue a man who had been shot and injured by the police.

Knighted

The injured man, Rameish Simpson, who is said to be of interest to the police, was shot during an alleged gunfight. Robertson has defended his role in assisting Simpson. He said that if he had not rescued him, he might have been killed by the cops.

"I should be knighted," Robertson said.

The MP retrieved Simpson and took him to the Kingston Public Hospital without the knowledge of police officers in St Thomas but with the knowledge of senior Jamaica Constabulary Force personnel whom he had alerted to his actions.

Morrison told The Gleaner yesterday that the strength of the case against Robertson would be for the court to decide but noted that the police were of the view that Robertson broke the law.

Statements are being collected from the policemen involved in the incident, Morrison said.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Monday's lead story published under the headline 'MP faces arrest' incorrectly captured the intent of the St Thomas police in relation to James Robertson's role following a shooting in West St Thomas. The headline incorrectly suggested that Robertson could be jailed for using abusive language to the police. The Gleaner has satisfied itself that even though summonses have been prepared for Robertson, it does not mean he will be arrested. A summons merely requires one to appear in court to answer charges.

We regret the error.