UPDATE: Sebastien gets 20 years behind bars for FirstBank Robbery
The court room saw much tears this morning from Sebastien and his mother Estella Anthony who pleaded for mercy for her son. The man threw himself prostrate before Justice Redhead telling him how sorry he was for his actions and that he had no intention of hurting anyone.
“I know what I did was wrong and I am ready for the punishment, but I am asking for some leniency for my sake and my mother's sake," pleaded the man as Justice Redhead looked directly at him with a straight face and no sign of being rocked by the plea and tears.
Sebastien was represented by Attorney at Law Richard Rowe.
On the account that monies and weapons were ever found, Justice Redhead said he was convinced Sebastien was prepared to pay the price for the others still at large.
His mother Ms Anthony, who took to the stand to enter a plea for her son, said she had been in the Virgin Islands for over two decades and is now retired after working for some years as a security guard.
She said she raised her children as a single mother but she was so often taken up with her many jobs that her children did not get the attention they needed.
See previous article posted on March 5, 2013
FirstBank robbery accused pleads guilty
Royden Sebastien, who is accused of being part of a group that carried out a daring robbery on FirstBank in 2010, has pleaded guilty before High Court Judge Albert Redhead.
Sebastien entered the guilty plea this morning, March 5, 2013.
It is alleged that, Sebastien along with others unknown, robbed the bank of $31,627 on the morning of July 26, 2010. Around 10 A.M., three masked men, equipped with rifles, burst into the financial institution and demanded all the customers on the floor.
Two men jumped over the counter and demanded money from the tellers, Principal Crown Counsel Tiffany Scatliffe had previously told the Magistrate's Court.
Sebastien has been remanded to prison.
See previous article posted on January 24, 2012
Fingerprints link Sebastien to FirstBank robbery – Court hears
Royden Sebastien, fingered in the 2010 FirstBank robbery, is allegedly linked to the crime after his fingerprints were lifted from the getaway vehicle, according to the Crown.
The 28 year-old appeared before Magistrate Tamia Richards this morning, January 24, 2012 but was not allowed to plea since the offence is an indictable one.
It is alleged that, Sebastien along with others unknown, robbed the bank of $31,627 on the morning of July 26, 2010. Around 10 a.m., three masked men, equipped with rifles, burst into the financial institution and demanded all the customers on the floor.
Two men jumped over the counter and demanded money from the tellers, Principal Crown Counsel Tiffany Scatliffe told the court.
Eyewitnesses described two of the men to be 5, 5” and the other to be approximately six feet with one of the robbers dressed in an “orangish tee shirt” and yellow trousers, and the other two allegedly had on blue pants and white tee shirts. The masks allegedly appeared to be made from tee shirts.
The court heard that the Assistant Manager went to the “back and pressed the panic” with the Police arriving shortly after. From the Assistant Manager’s recollection of the event leading up to the robbery, it was revealed that around 7:20 a.m. she saw a gray SVU parked close to the bank’s main entrance door.
Later on the same day, July 26, 2010, a gray Suzuki Grand Vitara RT 1540 was found abandoned parked along the McNamara Hill road, Scatliffe further stated.
“The engine was still running and the rear right wheel was deflated. No person was seen in the area,” she added. However, a black and purple face mask and some other items were found in the vehicle.
Police found out that the vehicle was stolen after a resident made a report the same morning around 8:30 a.m.
Meanwhile, two days later on July 28, 2010 the defendant was brought in for an informal interview and he allegedly told the detective that he was surprised he was questioned on the same day of the robbery because “he always get accused for these kinds of crimes.”
The Belmont Estate resident informed officers that on the day of the robbery he got up at around 8 a.m., hitched a ride to town where he played basketball with friends at the Purcell basketball court and then lime on the stairs of McKelly’s building.
However, the court heard that with insufficient evidence to hold him, the 28 year-old was released pending further investigations. Then, as a result of a cannabis arrest on January 20, 2012, Sebastien was officially charged with one count of robbery.
According to Principal Crown Counsel Scatliffe, preliminary fingerprint analysis has confirmed that Sebastien’s fingerprints were found in the grey SUV. She also revealed that the robbers left a bag in the bank and that along with the items in the vehicle have been sent for DNA testing. Those results are still pending.
Crown objected to bail
Given the serious nature of the crime where lives were at risk, Sebastien seen as a flight risk and his alleged close connections to St. Croix, Scatliffe objected to any bail offer. She also noted that with the accused alleged accomplices still at large, she is worried that potential witnesses may be “interfered with”.
Sebastien, who will be representing himself, asked for all the evidence that police have against him. He told the Magistrate that he just wanted to get “this over with”. The matter is set for February 21, when it will be up for report.
As for the cannabis charges, Sebastien pled guilty to cultivation of cannabis and unlawful possession of cannabis and will be sentenced on January 31, 2012.
Officers found six grams of cannabis at his home on January 20. The street value is $160.
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28 Responses to “UPDATE: Sebastien gets 20 years behind bars for FirstBank Robbery”
Section 210 (1) of the BVI Criminal Code,which came into force on 1st September 1997,states " A person is guilty of Robbery if he steals and immediately before or at the time of doing so,and in order to do so,he uses force on any person or puts or seeks to put any person in FEAR of being then and there subjected to force".
Sub-section (2) of Section 210 states "A person who commits ROBBERY is guilty of an OFFENCE and is liable on conviction to IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE"!
News in review:Road Town Tortola BVI: On 15th August,2007/2008,at about 11.00AM,3 mask gunmen entered Virgin Islands Bank,ajacent to the Social Security Board building,robbed the bank and during the ROBBERY,shot Honorable-Andrew Fahie and a Dominica-born belonger.The robbers were described as 2 shot men and 1 very-very tall man:It was reported,that it was the very-very-tall man,who shot Fahie and the Dominica-born-belonger. I had told the Dominican lady and her mother,that whoever shot PB will one day face judgement!Don't do them Evil;just light a candle,and let their evil deeds and evil thoughts come right back at them.That is exactly what my family did to the Criminal who shot the legal team in the line of duty in the BVI:But today,people like blogger "RICKII" want to tell Legal Team,"oh u get pension fr BVI and get status,so u legal team should not blogg?".RICKII,Legal Team served Her Majesty-The Queen,for 23yrs and 5 months,so if Her Majesty makes provisions under Her BVI laws,to grant the Legal Team a pension,what Her Majesty does,is none of your DAAAM business!!
Well I Bloging on this Democratic news site;because I want to tell Royden Sebastien-"Royden,you know what I know",and it is only because,I had taken an Oath to serve Her Majesty-The Queen,and that Oath,ensured that all high profile secret information that I received while I was serving Her Majesty,must remain secret even after retirement.ROYDEN;The law declares,that if you are guilty of Robbery,the sentence IS Life imprisonment.All those Criminals who go out there Tormenting Her Majesty's Citizens and Residents,will one day pay for their Crimes against society! I hope the blogger-RICKII is not one of these CRIMINALS,in peaceful BVI!Royden; YOUR @@@@@$$$$$$$ is going to jail for a long-long-TIME!!!!!!!
Accomplices, hmm. Lotta people hear bow those too!