Nassau, BAHAMAS- Police arrested a murder suspect as they enforced a national curfew imposed to halt the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
Rico Rahming, 25, admitted violating the 24-hour curfew on March, which restricts people to their homes unless they are carrying out essential business.
However, Rahming told Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux that he had to be on the street at 10pm.
Rahming said he was on his way to get a charger for his ankle bracelet before the battery died.
Rahming said he risked breaking the curfew since police would have charged him for bail violation, if he didn’t charge his tracking device.
Based on his explanation, the magistrate gave Rahming an absolute discharge.
Rahming is awaiting trial for the 2012 murder of Kayvonnya Miller. She was found stabbed to death in bushes in Pinewood Gardens.
HITCHHIKERS FINED FOR BREAKING CURFEW
However, two Jamaican women arrested standing in the street in the middle of the night were convicted of violating the curfew.
Police arrested Narda Biggs, 42, and Malisse Connelly, 40, on JFK Drive at 10pm on March 30.
The women claimed they were waiting for a ride. Magistrate Turnquest-Deveaux ordered them to pay a $250 fine to avoid spending three months in prison.
Police have prosecuted over 120 curfew violators since the stay-home order came into effect on March 20.
Curfew violators face a maximum of 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.
CORONAVIRUS CASES CONTINUE TO SPIKE
The number of COVID-19 patients continues to rise. As of April 1, there were 21 confirmed cases with one death. There were 935,957 cases and 47,245 deaths worldwide.
Restrictions, like curfews and closures of non-essential businesses, parks and beaches, have been used globally to slow community spread of the coronavirus.
Despite implementing restrictive measures in The Bahamas, the streets are still busy with traffic.
Prime Minister Hubert Minnis plans to unveil a shopping schedule this week to reduce shopping crowds.
