Nassau, BAHAMAS-A senior citizen arrested for going walking during the coronavirus lockdown has lodged an appeal against his $400 fine.
Magistrate Sandradee Gardiner had given 71-year-old Charles Johnson until April 24 to pay the money to avoid spending one month in prison.
However, the sentence will be spending pending an appeal.
Police arrested Johnson at Andros Avenue around 5:30pm on April 11.
They didn’t give him police bail, so he appeared in court in shackles.
Johnson admitted to violating the lockdown at his arraignment on April 15.
Gardiner told Johnson that at his advanced years made him more susceptible to the coronavirus, which is responsible for 11 deaths in the country.
She said, “At 71, you are part of the vulnerable group. You don’t need to be out there.”
The magistrate suggested that Johnson walk around his yard or jog in place for exercise during future lockdowns.
The government has implemented lockdowns and curfews in an attempt to contain the local spread of the coronavirus.
Another lockdown begins at 9pm on April 24 and expires at 5am on April 27.
People who breach the lockdown and curfew measures could face prison terms up to 18 months and fines of $10,000.
As of April 24, there were 73 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the country.
