ASSISTANT Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Wayne Rajbansie tendered his resignation earlier this month, following a meeting with the Judicial Legal Service Commission (JLSC).

In a telephone interview with the Express yesterday, Rajbansie, who has been a State attorney since he graduated from law school in 1997, said he resigned because he wanted to face new challenges.

Rajbansie, who applied to be DPP last year, said he sent his resume and filled out an application for the position of a Puisne (pronounced puny) Judge after it was advertised in the daily newspapers.

In response to reports that his resignation came after he was overlooked for the post of DPP, Rajbansie said he "is not leaving the DPP's office with any animosity whatsoever".

Asked if he was given assurances that he would be a judge, hence his resignation, Rajbansie said no.

He said he handed in his resignation letter on September 2 citing "new challenges" as his reason for leaving. Rajbansie gave a month's notice and his last working day will be on September 30. If bypassed for the job, Rajbansie, who has been a prosecutor all his legal life, said he would go into private practice.

Attempts to reach DPP Roger Gaspard were unsuccessful.