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Court Brief: Venezuelans & Ports Authority Staff in trouble with the law

December 18th, 2017 | Tags: Ayanna O. Baptiste-DaBreo arrested Guns Venezuelans
The Venezuelan men who were arrested on August 28, 2017 were Arrolde Marin, 38, Andri Zacarias, 28, and Jose Rosquel, 37, all from Venezuela and last week they appeared in the Magistrate Court, now held at the Road Town Police Station. Photo: VINO/File
Magistrate Ayanna O. Baptiste-DaBreo has stated it is not her responsibility to make money for the prison. Photo: VINO/File
Magistrate Ayanna O. Baptiste-DaBreo has stated it is not her responsibility to make money for the prison. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- It was a story first and accurately reported by our newsroom on August 29, 2017, that some men were found in a house in Cox Heath with guns and cash in a joint operation by the police and Immigration and Customs Officials, who had swooped down on the men for overstaying their time in the Virgin Islands (VI).

The men who were arrested on August 28, 2017 were Arrolde Marin, 38, Andri Zacarias, 28, and Jose Rosquel, 37, all from Venezuela and last week they appeared in the Magistrate's Court, now held at the Road Town Police Station.

They were represented by Attorney at Law E. Leroy Jones. Mr Jones stated in open court that the men should be shown leniency for not running away after the September 2017 prison break. He also argued that the men all have families. He suggested to the court that the men should be given fines that could go towards repairing Her Majesty's Prison, that was compromised after the killer storm Irma.

Not my job to raise money for HMP- DaBreo

However, Magistrate Ayanna O. Baptiste-DaBreo rejected Mr Jones’ line of argument and stated that it is not her responsibility to make money for the prison.

She sentenced Mr Marin to five years in prison for possession of a firearm and four months for possession of ammunition. In addition to his concurrent sentences he was slapped with a $1000 fine for overstaying in the VI. Mr Rosquel was fined some $17,000 including $1,000 for overstaying and 12 months in the state-owned penitentiary at Balsam Ghut. In addition, Mr Rosquel was given another $6,000 fine for smuggling, and another $10,000 for failing to declare monies he had to customs officers.

The final man from Venezuela, Mr Zacarias, who had overstayed in the Territory, was released after being locked up for some three months plus.

BVI Ports Authority staff accused of theft

Meanwhile, the BVI Ports Authority is in the news. Three of their employees were arrested and charged for stealing items from ports facilities. Donice Samuel of Fat Hogs Bay and Nicklin Joseph and Dabriel Merry of East End Tortola were arrested when missing items belonging to the BVIPA were found at their home, according to police.

The three were granted bail and is expected to return to court in early 2018. The items allegedly stolen were not immediately known.

10 Responses to “Court Brief: Venezuelans & Ports Authority Staff in trouble with the law”

  • ports (18/12/2017, 18:52) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    how our young people getting caught up
  • 911 (18/12/2017, 19:23) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    deport the Venezuelans we cannot afford to keep them here
  • Lard (18/12/2017, 20:57) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Didn’t the guy merry was arrested for stealing money from the college or some place they need prayers
    • Not the same person (18/12/2017, 22:36) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
      It’s a different Merry that worked at the port to the one at the college. Maybe they are related.
  • one eye (19/12/2017, 01:48) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Gun and cash check thoes gun finger prints
  • wize up (19/12/2017, 03:40) Like (12) Dislike (3) Reply
    How come the politicians not going jail for the people tax money stealing is stealing
  • enough (19/12/2017, 07:31) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    I do hope the person the 3 men stayed with was arrested as well.
  • Playing Tuff (20/12/2017, 10:17) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    The little Magistrate playing tough.. The Lawyer was making Sense...Dont understand why power get to our heads and consume us to the point where we become ungodly
  • Sue (22/12/2017, 05:07) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    She playing tough? she thinks she’s tough. She will dio understand what time it is, not to worry. She not going to be there forever you see her last name. I think she’s disrespectful and willful, sometimes I wonder if she had the country in mind. with some of her decisions. Don’t she ballo is in a state. The lawyer is not my favorite person but he has more sense than her with some really good ideas with the present state right now why kick them up let them work to rebuild the prison
  • Just saying (24/12/2017, 19:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Like all the other magistrate that come here her time will expire and she will stay on all the women magistrate Marrry some sucker and move in permanently just wait and see


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