Magistrate concerned with lawyers’ choices

 By JACKLYN SIRIAS 
SENIOR magistrate Cosmas Bidar is concerned about decisions of young lawyers at the Public Solicitor’s Office regarding election of cases involving the National Information and Communication Technology Authority (Nicta) Act.
Bidar said some of the young lawyers at the  office were of the view that cases involving Nicta werei ndictable offences.
He raised this concern after adjourning Melcie Alkita’s case several times because young lawyers from the solicitor’s office elected for it to proceed through the committal court.
Alkita is charged with sending obscene languages to another person by phone under the Nicta Act.
Bidar said for such cases, the offences are simple and should be dealt with summarily.
He said for simple offences, consent had to be obtained from the public prosecutor for the cases to be dealt with in the district court.
Bidar said only serious offences or indictable offences go through the committal proceedings.