A police prosecutor in the District ‘A’ Magistrate’s Court went beyond the call of duty today when an accused woman suddenly collapsed in the courtroom.
Station Sergeant Samuel Hinds immediately sprang into action after 51-year-old Hannah Elydia Reid, a diabetic, fell to the floor.
At the time, the Guyanese woman, who is jointly accused with her nephew of fraud, was about to be transferred from the court to prison where she was to be held on remand until Monday.
Hinds and others quickly stepped in and ensured that the accused was comfortable until the paramedics arrived and stretchered her off to hospital for treatment.
Reid, is jointly charged with Kelvin Richard Nixon, also a Guyanese, with obtaining goods from PMST (Barbados) Limited on August 7 by using a FirstCaribbean International Bank visa debit card belonging to Anthony D. Phillips.
She pleaded not guilty to the charge while her 35-year-old nephew owned up to the offence.
Nixon is also accused of conducting a series of transactions using Phillips’ card between August 2 and 22, including dishonestly obtaining a $12,939.30 engine from Star Products Limited; $3,632 in goods from Pro Sales; $779.98 in goods from Galaxy Fashions; $2,435.95 in goods from West Riley Electronics Company Limited; $460 in goods from Fusionz Boutique; $1,130.84 in goods from Shopsmart Inc; two airline tickets valued at $1,646.42 from LIAT (1974) Limited; $702. 36 in goods from F&B Automotive Arts; $7,150.85 in goods from Carters and Company; and $4,357.58 in goods from Cost-U-Less.
He is further accused of stealing $39,000 from Phillips’ account at the bank’s Broad Street branch, as well as laundering $82,134. 40 in proceeds of crime.
Sergeant Rudy Pilgrim objected to bail for both accused who were arrested at the departure lounge of the Grantley Adams International Airport and are deemed to be flight risks.
He also highlighted the fact that police had recovered seven barrels destined for Guyana. The prosecutor further pointed to the seriousness of the offences and the “potency” of the evidence.
“The virtual complainant held Nixon in a position of trust and he betrayed that trust. If granted bail the Crown fears that they will attempt to flee or commit similar offences,” Pilgrim told Magistrate Douglas Frederick.
However, attorney-at-law Sian Lange argued that Reid was a fit candidate for bail, as she was facing one charge for which she maintains her innocence. Lange pointed out that her client had no prior convictions, was a regular visitor to the island, had legitimate status in the country and had strong ties with Barbados as her boyfriend lives here.
The lawyer also said that the situation had taken a toll on her client who was diabetic and hypertensive, adding that she was willing to comply with any conditions the court imposed.
Nixon meanwhile did not put in an application for bail after an immigration officer revealed that he had been in the country since December 2015. He subsequently obtained a work permit, which expired in 2016, but had not regularized his status since then.
Nixon was therefore remanded to Dodds prison until September 28.
However, before that he will attend the District ‘D’ Magistrate’s Court on September 5 as two of the current charges are alleged to have occurred in that jurisdiction.
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