ALLEGED FRAME-UP

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 48, 19 November 1937, Page 11

ALLEGED FRAME-UP

-Press Association.)

New Evidence Suggests Plot to Have Him Gaoled PETITION TO HOUSE

(By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Last Night. In the House to-day Bev. A. H. Nordnieycr (Oamaru — Government), on behalf of the M to Z Committee, reported on the petition of Bachint Singh, of Fordell, praying for compensation and other relief for alleged miscarriage of justice, that the petition should be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration and with a' view to a commission of inquiry beingset up to investigate the case. Mr. Nordmeyer explained that Singh had served a sentence of a year's iiuprisonment for alleged rape, but after he had been released, evidence had come to light that certain witnesses in the trial after which he had been scntenced had committed perjury. Mr. G. H. O. Wilson (Eangitikei — Government) thanked the Committee for its report and stated that the chief witness for the prosecution had boasted •that he had been responsible for putting Singh in prison. Tliere was dire," l interest on the part of the woman and hpr husband concerned in the case because, as subsequent proccedings had proved, they owed Singh certain sums of money. Mr. Wilson said he thoughl the case certainly deserved further vonsideration. The Attorney-General (Hon. H. G. R. Mason) pointed out that one aspect which must be considered in all cases of this nature was why evidence whicli came to light after the trial had n>t been presented at the trial itself. If evidence could have been presented ac the trial, then the qucstion arose whether there shonldlDe a re-hearing of the case. i

Mr. J. Hargest (Awarua — Opposition), who was a member of the committee concerned, said Singh claimed that.he had been the victim of a con- • spiracy and that one group of Hindus had set out to catch him, also that certain witnesses at his trial had eommitted perjury. Those men who, the petitioner stated, had been responsiblo for the "frame up" against him, had left the country for fear of consequences. Mr. Nordmeyer expressed regret at tho attitude adopted by the AttorneyGeneral and said the committee had considered the question of whether the " evidence produced later could have been giveh at the trial. It had not lightly come to its (Jecision that there should be an inquiry. The committee 's recommendation was passed.