Former Prosecutor in Turks & Caicos Office of the DPP banned six months from practicing law

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, October 6, 2022 – Former TCI employed lawyer at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Sophia Thomas has been suspended from practicing as a lawyer for six months from November 1st according to Jamaican media.

The Jamaica Gleaner says Thomas was sentenced in her native Jamaica after becoming the first prosecutor in the country’s history to be found guilty of professional misconduct.  That guilty verdict was from earlier this year.

The case was brought against her in 2017 by the accused in a fraud case.  Thomas was found to have ‘violated the canons of professional ethics’ during the case which had to be thrown out because of the mix-up.

Despite this very serious charge, the Director of Public Prosecutions moved forward with hiring Sophia Thomas in October 2021.  In late August and amidst public outcry, it was determined that it was best for Thomas to resign the position until exonerated.

Despite the damning verdict and decision, it is likely the embattled lawyer will appeal.  In August her attorney Hugh Wildman told Magnetic Media that not only did he have concerns about expertise of the lawyers in the case, his client was declared guilty before proceedings were even over.

As reported by Jamaican media and confirmed by Wildman, Thomas presented a photocopied document to the court.  Thomas said it was the original but there were at least 11 discrepancies between it and the actual original.

Apparently the original could not be found and the witness who penned it was asked to rewrite it resulting in the changes.

In addition to the suspension, Thomas is ordered to pay legal costs amount to $400,000.