Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard yesterday issued a stern warning to groups and public officials, urging them to refrain from comments which can prejudice criminal proceedings against Jamaat-al-Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr.

In a release sent yesterday, Gaspard again reminded individuals ’that it is contrary to law and public policy for statements or utterances to be made, out of court, which might influence the course of these criminal proceedings or which may tend to affect their outcome’.

He added, ’It is a contempt of court to publish any material capable of prejudicing active legal proceedings ... and further it is the duty of the Director to bring before the High Court any matter which he thinks may amount to contempt of court ...’

It was only last week that Justice Mark Mohammed addressed the issue of pre-trial publicity following concerns raised by Abu Bakr’s attorney, Wayne Sturge, who sought to convince the court that a permanent stay should be granted. Sturge’s application came following statements made by Prime Minister Patrick Manning, Attorney General John Jeremie and articles published in the media.

Abu Bakr, 67, is charged with promoting a terrorist act, sedition and four other offences arising out of comments he made during an Eid-ul-Fitr sermon in November 2005 at the Mucurapo Road mosque of the Jamaat. He is also charged with two counts of inciting a riot, demanding money by menace and inciting others to breach the peace.