Charges against Dr Ackie withdrawn

The charges against physician Dr Junior Ackie have been withdrawn.{{more}}

Yesterday, Ackie appeared at the Magistrate’s Court in Calliaqua, for the continuation of the hearing into the10 charges he faced, when Karim Nelson, prosecutor in the case, told magistrate Zoila Browne that upon re-assessment of the evidence, the prosecution would not be able to prove the case without reasonable doubt.

On September 25, 2011, Ackie was charged with, among other things: carrying on the business of a pharmacy, without conspicuously exhibiting in the pharmacy a certificate of registration of the business, displaying the sign “Pharmacy” on his premises at his medical clinic at Arnos Vale, implying to the public that his clinic is a registered pharmacy, operating a retail pharmacy at his medical clinic at Arnos Vale, which the Council of Pharmacy of St Vincent and the Grenadines deemed upon inspection as unsuitable for operating a pharmacy.

He was also charged with selling drugs by retail, while the sale was not carried out by a registered pharmacist.

When the case was first heard in June this year, pharmacists Tyrone Jack, Joanne Ince-Jack, and Steve Millington gave testimony for the prosecution, and three other individuals were slated to testify.

Nelson withdrew the charges before the three other persons were allowed to testify. He, however, told SEARCHLIGHT that Ackie can be recharged in the future.

Ackie was represented by counsel Samantha Robertson.(JJ)