Up to press time, Mrs. Holder-Allen was still in police custody.

Her arrest followed a message which the police left at her home for her to show up at Brickdam Police Station for questioning.

When she failed to heed their request, members of the Joint Services (police/army) descended on her city residence at about 5:45 am yesterday morning, took her into custody and escorted her to the Brickdam Police Station.

Shortly after her arrest, a relative told the media that Holder-Allen is innocent and is facing unnecessary harassment by the authorities.

The former Chief Magistrate has recently been vocal in both the print and electronic media following the Ministry of Health fire when her name was mentioned and she was told that the Police wanted her for questioning

Subsequently, Holder-Allen denied her involvement in the fire, and was advised by her attorney not to turn herself in to the Police.

The Police, in an earlier press statement, said that they had noted comments made on television and in the print media by the former Chief Magistrate, and had left a message at her home on July 28 for her to report to the Brickdam Police Station.

The police said that they would like to question the former Chief Magistrate in relation to some issues regarding the fire at the Ministry of Health.

This became necessary based on information which had surfaced during investigations, the Police reported.

Friday, July 31, 2009