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Aubrey Daniels pleads not guilty to Illegal Entry; Remanded to HMP

- had left Territory legally on July 18, 2020
Government employee Aubrey Daniels, 59, of Duffs Bottom, pleaded not guilty to Illegal Entry and Giving False Information to Police and has been remanded to Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) in Balsam Ghut. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Former Government employee Aubrey Daniels, 59, of Duffs Bottom, has pleaded not guilty to Illegal Entry and Giving False Information to Police and has been remanded to Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) in Balsam Ghut.

Magistrate Christilyn Benjamin said during his arraignment hearing on Thursday, September 3, 2020, that while in quarantine in custody, Daniels would undergo CoVID-19 tests before his return before the court on September 21, 2020, when she will decide on whether he will be granted bail or not.

The father of 12 children and US citizen, who has Belonger status, allegedly committed both offences on August 30, 2020. 

Allegations

Prosecutor Ms Annjel X. Flax said on July 15, 2020, Ocean Dreams Water Taxi Charter Service received permission from the Ministry of Health to deliver three passengers to St Thomas, US Virgin Islands (USVI) on July 18, 2020. The defendant was a passenger.

When the boat departed St Thomas, she said, only crew members were on board.

Fast forward to August 31 2020; a Customs officer received information from a resident on Jost van Dyke that a Rastafarian man dressed in a black shirt and brownish coloured pants, who was boarding the ferry to go to Tortola, had entered the Territory illegally.

The resident claimed the man, who was later identified as the defendant, came into Jost van Dyke on a go-fast boat from the direction of the USVI.

After alerting the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), the Customs officer boarded the ferry and sat directly across from the defendant.

Upon their arrival at the West End ferry dock, the defendant was intercepted by three police officers.

False information

Ms Flax said when the officers asked the defendant his name, he was not truthful and gave his name as ‘Aubrey Smith’ of Duffs Bottom.

He also told officers that he did not have any identification on him; however, when he was searched, a wallet was uncovered with a Virgin Islands Drivers License bearing the name, ‘Aubrey Daniels’.

Conflicting responses

Daniels was later taken to the West End Police Station and then to the Road Town Police Station where he was interviewed under caution.

The defendant, according to the court, gave several conflicting responses to his whereabouts, all of which were proven to be incorrect.

He first said he was in the [British] Virgin Islands all the time and denied that he travelled to the USVI during the pandemic.

Daniels then changed his story when he was shown a manifest with his name listed among the passengers leaving for the USVI on July 18, 2020. He said he travelled there, but he returned on the same day.

That story was later changed when he was shown a copy of the return manifest showing only the two names of the crew members returning to the Territory.

He then said he remained in St Thomas for two weeks in quarantine and returned to the Territory just before Jost van Dyke went into lockdown mode.

Again, he was shown proof that the times were not adding up, including information from the ferry company that he did not travel between Tortola and Jost van Dyke or vice versa during July 18 to August 31, 2020.

He was then charged with the offences before the court.

Attorney-at-Law Mr Michael Maduro represents Mr Daniels.

23 Responses to “Aubrey Daniels pleads not guilty to Illegal Entry; Remanded to HMP”

  • my yute (03/09/2020, 13:53) Like (4) Dislike (48) Reply
    Poor falla with 12 children he deserves a break
    • Tracy (03/09/2020, 15:35) Like (2) Dislike (59) Reply
      He’s a local he deserves to be free y’all island people who come in illegal need be put in jail and deported. He’s one of us bvi & usvi lander
      • TRACE (03/09/2020, 16:59) Like (16) Dislike (2) Reply
        Tracy you are one ignorant individual.
        • @TRACE (05/09/2020, 12:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          And you a fool to believe that person name is Tracy & to believe a person would type that contrived comment in earnest.
    • Negro Lass (03/09/2020, 16:57) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
      @my yute....No he doesn't. Rastafari should be living a righteous life other than him lying and being deceitful.
    • Trojan Mannnn (03/09/2020, 19:02) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      Who tell him to make a dozen?
    • Greg (04/09/2020, 08:01) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply

      So he was sneaking in, not knowing of he was infected or not, only to go home and infect his wife and children and the rest of his contacts? You feel he needs a break? You really have no common sense or you would have thought through your statement before posting it. You stated "Poor falla with 12 children he deserves a break". Well, it is people sneaking in and out who are bringing the virus here. I have zero tolerance for idiots who only think about themselves. Fine and prison time like anyone else pulling this crap!

  • Peaches (03/09/2020, 14:01) Like (20) Dislike (1) Reply
    What a fool!! Why tell all those lies? One thing the Court hates is when a defendant blatantly lies. If he had told the truth and pled guilty this whole thing would have been over quickly. He would have been charged with illegal entry, slapped with a fine and spend about four months up at Balo. What will his lawyer say in his defense when the truth is staring him in the face? I am sorry, but I could not be a defense lawyer.
  • T (03/09/2020, 14:09) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    You see if it was an expat you would see them bastard blogging .deport them, hang them . Now they remanded him in custody ,he deserves a chance.
  • u (03/09/2020, 14:46) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    @my yute a brake to do what to continue put people life in danger u mad or u sick which one
  • my son (03/09/2020, 14:51) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr those not care if Sunday falls on a Saturday so mam like them u have to teach them a lesson
  • rastafari (03/09/2020, 15:19) Like (4) Dislike (8) Reply
    Rastafari deals with up fullness our own people just not getting it right

    The day the dollar die we will return to nature’s little secret
  • rewrsdffds (03/09/2020, 16:11) Like (20) Dislike (2) Reply
    Now my fruits will be able to grow without being picked young and sold at his yard.
  • GG (03/09/2020, 20:24) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Why he not taken to proper govt. quarantine, why stick he up the prison ?? How many covid19 positive people up Balsum Ghut, right now? I hear there are definitely some. . .
  • question (03/09/2020, 20:26) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    is this the same man that had that dog incident with the police sometime back?
  • Throw em out (04/09/2020, 06:46) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    What if people die because of him? Will he be guilty of murder? Stupid as stupid does. What about those who illegally imported people for fun? Bet they aint laughing now with curfew.
  • Barn here (04/09/2020, 06:50) Like (1) Dislike (5) Reply
    I thought the Borders are open for belongers?
  • Y’all fools (04/09/2020, 12:31) Like (0) Dislike (13) Reply
    Covid ain’t that serious! Y’all get caught up by the media and politicians you “trust” you can get sick but most will be fine. But y’all shut down everything because a few older people stay home then. Wen will this go away.. When your told it’s over? Or after the US Election? Money was good and now the govt trying to rip y’all apart and not think together. Putting hate between each other. Black white/ belonger/down island


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