A FEMALE magistrate recently showed blatant favouritism when her relative appeared on narcotics charges before her in court.

Sources told TnT Mirror that the magistrate knowingly failed to withdraw herself from the matter.

“She, instead, chose to be extremely lenient with her relative.

“Not on one occasion, but twice,” Mirror was told.

Concerned sources are calling on Chief Magistrate Sherman McNichols to investigate the behaviour of the magistrate.

“The correct thing to do in such a situation was to withdraw oneself from such a matter,” a policeman told Mirror.

The teenager appeared in court three weeks ago charged with having 20 grams of marijuana in his possession.

“He pleaded guilty before his magistrate relative and was reprimanded and discharged.

“Other defendants, who appeared on charges with smaller quantities of marijuana were fined.

“In one case a man was fined $3,500 for 10 grams of marijuana,” a police officer said.

The said defendant again appeared before the said magistrate one-week later on a similar charge.

“This time the magistrate asked for a probation report.

“How much more silly can this case get?

“The magistrate knows everything about the young man and still sends for a probation report.

“This kind of behaviour is certainly unfair to the ordinary man.

“It is not fair and must not be allowed to continue,” a source at the courthouse said.

Mirror understands that the magistrate regularly brings her family to work with her.

A worker of the court said: “The magistrate keeps her relatives in her chamber while court is in progress.

“It’s disgusting since the chamber is next to the court and the magistrate leaves the door of her chamber open.

“She then ridicules people loudly for her family to hear when she conducts her court.

“Police officers, the court prosecutor, lawyers and members of the public are all embarrassed by the magistrate for petty issues.”