Speculation is rife that attempts are being made to scuttle a charge brought against Frederick "Balla" Noel, one of the most prominent security officers attached to Grenada Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell.

Balla was charged last Friday in connection with a shooting incident which occurred since last September at the Bocas in St. George's. The Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) finally brought the charge against Balla five months after the shooting incident sent shock waves throughout the country.

Police insiders confided to this newspaper that Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Christopher Nelson had recommended months ago that charges be brought against both the police officer and the civilian due to the nature of the encounter.

Balla is said to have shot the other man in the hand over an apparent lover's quarrel late at night. The man from San Souci, St. George's spent several days at the St. George's General Hospital receiving treatment for the gun shot wound to his hand.

The police officer alleged in his defense that the man pulled out a knife on him and he was forced to shoot in self-defense. An official police report said: "Frederick NOEL, Police Officer, residing at Telescope, St. Andrew's, was arrested formally charged and cautioned for the offence of causing Grievous Harm. Committed on the 2.9.05".

Informed sources told GRENADA TODAY that high-level legal moves are already being made to get the matter thrown out of court on the grounds that "Balla" was improperly charged by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). According to sources, documents to this effect have already been served on an Inspector of Police attached to the CID.

Hours after he was officially charged, Balla retained the services of barrister-at-law, Derek Sylvester to look after his interest. According to government sources Sylvester was approached in the absence of the barrister-at-law normally used by the State for these matters, Michael Sylvester who is ill at the moment.

These sources indicated that government officials were forced to sack Derek Sylvester for allegedly failing to conduct the case based on instructions given to him by Balla. "What I was told is that Balla informed Derek that (name of foreign lawyer withheld) wanted him to conduct the case along a particular line.

"He (foreign lawyer) wanted Derek to file a motion in the high court challenging the authority of the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) for bringing the charge against him.

"When Derek refused to do that, Balla then fired him. I understand that they (government officials) are looking for another lawyer right now to represent Balla. Legal sources told this newspaper that Nelson is not liked in government circles.

In the recent budget debate, Prime Minister Mitchell sought to link Nelson as "a friend" of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) during a heated debate with Opposition Leader Tillman Thomas. Balla is considered as a loyalist to Prime Minister Mitchell after he openly stated that he is prepared "to take a bullet" for the Grenadian leader.