Man freed of surety obligations
The case which appeared before the Magistrate’s Court on September 5, 2012, revealed that Mr. Lashley, who is currently facing theft charges, allegedly left the country two weeks after his bail was signed by Mr. Osbourne.
Crown Counsel Leslie-Ann Faulkner, who presented the facts to Magistrate Valerie Stephens, explained that somehow, an officer returned the defendant’s passport back to his possession.
One of Mr. Lashley’s bail requirements was that, he must surrender his travel documents over to the authorities, which he did.
Mr. Osbourne signed Mr. Lashley’s bail of $3000 on January 15, 2012.
Mr. Patrick Thompson, who represented Mr. Osbourne, told the court that Mr. Osbourne shouldn’t be required to pay the full amount or any amount. “We recognize the seriousness, but ask the court to have discretion, if Mr. Osbourne was aware that the defendant’s passport was returned to him, he wouldn’t have signed off as surety.”
Mr. Thompson told the court that Mr. Osbourne had nothing to do with Mr. Lashley’s absence in the territory and should not bear the penalty.
Magistrate Stephens freed Mr. Osbourne of his Obligations as surety and stated that the Crown needs to make inquiries as to why the passport was released.
In response, Ms. Faulkner said she will make it aware to the Chief of Police, because officers have no right going against the bail requirements.
The court then placed an open warrant on Mr. Lashley.
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