Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewelyn will have to demit office, following a ruling by the Constitutional Court today.

This follows the government’s amendment of the Constitution to grant a second extension to Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewelyn with the option to remain in office up to the age of 70 years.

The judgment was handed down this morning, April 19, in the Constitutional Court.

This follows a case brought by the People’s National Party (PNP) challenging the move by the Government to use its majority in Parliament to pass a bill on Tuesday, July 25, to extend the retirement ages of the DPP from age 60 to 65, with a possible extension to 70.

The PNP said its members were unaware of the bill’s contents before the sitting of Parliament and were only made aware when it was tabled.

It further argued that despite its objection, the Government debated and passed the bill on the same day it was tabled.

The high court today ruled that the three-year extension granted to the DPP in 2020 was constitutional, however, the second amendment of the Constitution to extend the DPP tenure was unconstitutional.

The court ruled that the only lawful way of extending the DPP’s tenure is by an agreement between the Government and the Opposition leader.