By KHRYSTAL RAWLINS

The matter involving assault charges against Housing Minister Dr Keith Rowley, arising out of the September 2004 "tearoom brawl," came up for hearing yesterday at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court.

The matter, which was called by Magistrate David Harris in the city’s Second Court, saw only the virtual complainant, Fyzabad MP Chandresh Sharma and his attorney, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, turning up at the courthouse for the hearing.

When the matter was called by Harris, Persad-Bissessar said that a summons had not yet been served to Rowley, and as a result, they were unable to go on with the scheduled proceedings.

Newsday understands that a summons cannot be served within the precincts of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago, according to law.

Indicating that they needed time in which to effectively serve the summons, the magistrate adjourned the matter to September 12.

Charges of assault were brought against the Housing Minister following allegations by the Fyzabad MP that he was physically assaulted and had a teacup, two remote controls and a cordless phone thrown at him by the Diego Martin West MP in the members lounge of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago on September 15, 2004.

http://www.newsday.co.tt/stories.php?article_id=26220