KINGSTON, Jamaica — Chief Judge of the Parish Courts, Chester Crooks highlighted inefficiencies in the court system in relation to warrants when a case from 1993 was brought before him on Friday.

Daniel Francis was held for absconding bail in a larceny as a servant case that dates back over 30 years.

Francis’ attorney said the accused insists he had not absconded bail but that the case was thrown out. He claimed to have been advised of such by his then-attorney Bert Samuels.

Another case was reportedly brought against Francis in 1994 with the same investigating officer. He claimed that too was thrown out. However, the court documents did not reflect either of those dismissals.

Francis’ attorney raised questions on why the investigating officer would not have arrested her client on sight in 1994, knowing he had a warrant.

Crooks, while explaining there could have been any number of reasons for that on which he could not comment, said “In terms of warrants the system is broken, the system is such that people can hide in plain sight.”

He admonished too, the residents who he said knowingly skirt their warrants refusing to present themselves until they need their records cleared for travel or other reasons.

The prosecution indicated that Francis must answer to the absconding bail charge. Upon hearing that the matter would have to be put forward to give the records office a chance to find the documents that would clear up whether the case had truly been dismissed, Francis consulted with his attorney and pleaded guilty to absconding bail.

He was ordered to pay $50,000 or spend four months in prison.

The crown offered no evidence in the 30-year-old case of larceny in which he pleaded not guilty.

— Dana Malcolm