Crown awaiting phone transcripts in Henley & Fahie case
The duo, who are on bail, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday January 27, 2012 to ascertain the status of their case. The transcripts will be ready sometime in February.
Interdicted Immigration Officer Henley, 50, is charged with 14 counts of breach of trust for allegedly stamping the passports of 13 Brazilian nationals in February 2011, while Fahie is charged with one count of breach of trust.
Court records revealed that on January 14, 2011 it is believed that an unknown number of nationals entered the Virgin Islands (VI) in an unknown vessel, and six days later – January 20, the US authorities received information that a boat was leaving Cane Garden Bay en-route to the USVI. The vessel was intercepted by US officials the following day and subsequently four persons were nabbed.
When questioned, the individuals revealed that their passports were stamped in the Virgin Islands by an Immigration Officer. Officers were able to determine the signature to be that of Henley.
Investigations also indicated that the four individuals were not properly cleared in the VI. The following month, on February 10, 2011 it is alleged that Henley met the vessel MV Paint In Black at Village Cay marina where he cleared 13 Brazilians. The court heard he contacted Fahie to assist him.
It is alleged after he cleared the Brazilians he used his personal taxi to transport them to a guest house in Cane Garden Bay. However, on February 11, through an anonymous tip, Customs and Immigration officers swooped in on the guest house and took the 13 individuals into custody.
They were subsequently interviewed and repatriated to their homeland. According to the prosecution, Village Cay is an unauthorized port of entry and if an officer had to clear a vessel, permission had to be granted from the Chief Immigration Officer or Commissioner of Customs. But from all indications, there is no documentation from either Customs or Immigration for the vessel to be cleared.
It was also disclosed that MV Paint In Black came from St. Marteen and that according to the Brazilians they each paid $1,000 to get a BVI stamp.
The men’s matter is adjourned until March 20, 2012.
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