BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A Dorset Village man was spared custodial sentence following conviction of a larceny-related offence.
According to a police press release, Francois Rawlins was convicted of “receiving” and fined $5 000 by His Lordship Justice Francis Belle at the Basseterre High Court of Justice. The sum was to have been paid forthwith or, in default, a punishment of 18 months imprisonment would have been imposed.
The young man, as noted in the communiqué, paid the sum and was discharged by His Lordship.
According to the facts of the case, Rawlins was about to take a jewellery box from another young man but the transaction was intercepted by a police officer, who had taken both men into custody.
Her Worship Simone Bullen-Thompson convicted Vanston Blackmore of Cayon of the offence of “wounding” and fined him $1000, which is to be paid within six months. Should he fail to do so, a six-month custodial sentence would be imposed. Blackmore was also ordered by Her Worship to compensate the virtual complainant in the sum of $1 800. Failure to pay that sum would also result in a six-month custodial sentence.
Another Cayon resident, David Morton, also stood before Her Worship Bullen-Thompson on a charge of “wounding” and was convicted. He was convicted and ordered to pay a $1 000 fine within six months or serve six months at Her Majesty’s Prison. A compensatory sum of $1 800 also has to be paid to the virtual complainant.
Security Forces conduct island-wide operation
Unrelenting in their quest to reduce crime in the Federation, various departments of the armed forces conducted an island-wide operation late last month.
A communiqué from the Press and Public Relations Office of the police force explained that “On Friday 23rd October 2009, officers of the Basseterre Police Station Beat and Patrol, Drug Squad, SSU, and the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force conducted an island wide operation in search of illegal firearms and other offensive weapons, controlled drugs, stolen goods and traffic violations”.
During the exercise, 26 persons were stopped and searched “on suspicion of having controlled drugs arms and ammunitions”, and while nothing was found “to satisfy the suspicion, four (4) persons were given notice to bring their vehicle to the Traffic Department for inspection and eight (8) traffic tickets were issued for various traffic violations”.
Police officers on sister isle Nevis conducted similar operations which resulted in seven persons being stopped and searched on “suspicion of having controlled drugs, arms and ammunitions”. However, “nothing was found to satisfy the suspicion”.
