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by pltm
(PLTM) - BVIslander and resident of Little Dix Hill Tambu Frett was slapped with a 24-month custodial sentence and fined $12,000 for the offence of Smuggling, when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards earlier today Friday, May 22.
In addition, if he does not pay the fine, he will spend six months at Her Majesty’s Prison at Balsam Ghut.
For the other offence of Illegal Entry, he was sentenced to nine months plus a $1,000 fine.
He can face up to two months in jail if he does not pay the fine.
For the Breach of Curfew charge, he was sentenced to 50 days in prison plus a fine of $1000. This carries a two months default prison term if he does not pay the fine.
The senior magistrate said the custodial sentences would run concurrently, and for the default sentences, they will run consecutively; however, she did not indicate a timeframe that he must pay the fines.
During a previous court appearance, Frett pleaded guilty to all the offences and thus, he was given the applicable discounts for not wasting the court’s time.
His matter went through a Newton Hearing because of 30 Whatsapp messages found on his cellular phone that implicated him and others in a human smuggling operation between the USVI and the BVI.
Magistrate Richards said, despite Frett insisting that he was not part of an operation for monetary benefits, she reminded the court of key messages that said otherwise.
As a consequence, this new information added to the severity of the offence, coupled with the fact that his actions could have endangered the lives of the people of the territory by exposing them to the Novel Coronavirus Disease that is more widespread in the neighbouring territory.
He was represented by Attorney-at-law Leroy Jones.
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