Legal questions were exploding around the Cayman Islands Summary Court Room yesterday (16) when questions were raised whether a shipment of materials imported by Suresh Bhemsein Prasad, the Managing Director of Midland Acres Ltd, by themselves is actually explosive, as defined under the Cayman Islands Explosives Law.

Defence attorney Nicholas Dixey, and Crown Counsel Candice James told the court each side is being advised by an expert in the field.

The law defines “explosive” as a substance or combination of substances which are chemically or physically unstable or are kept in a manner by which they can readily be rendered unstable so that, upon the application of heat, detonation or other triggering agent or device they are liable violently to disintegrate, chemically or physically, with shattering destructive effect.

The definition includes any substance declared to be an explosive by regulation made under the Explosives Law.

Prasad is charged with importing explosives into the Cayman Islands without the proper permits. Nicholas Dixey acknowledged that the shipment contained blasting caps, the chemicals, according to the suppliers, are not explosive material and need further processing to make them so.

The matter has been adjourned by magistrate Valdis Foldats  until Friday (17) for further discussion although the Crown’s expert was not expected to be ready by Tuesday. Defence Attorney, however, suggested that the experts might be able to discuss the issues sooner and the magistrate agreed.