NASSAU-A businessman and his employee tried to bribe their way out of a curfew violation.
Officers went to Tropicana Bar on the Prince George Wharf on July 5 because it allegedly remained open past the 8pm curfew.
Sergeant 260 Pyfrom and 561 Munnings arrested the club’s manager Michael Woodside at 8:18pm for bribery after he offered them $40 to overlook the infraction.
Those same officers later arrested the bar’s owner Dennis Palomino when he showed up at the Central Police Station and offered them $200 to let Woodside walk free.
Both men pleaded guilty to bribery at their arraignment before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes today.
In his plea in mitigation, attorney Roger Gomez Jr. said that the officers approached Woodside as he was closing the business and he bribed them.
He said Palomino showed up during the arrest and the officers invited him to the station to produce his business license.
While there, Mr. Gomez said Munnings told Palomino that he and his partner were “offended” at the bribe offer of $20 apiece. As a result, they asked Palomino to come up with more money.
When Palomino asked the officers if $200 was enough, they agreed. However, the officers arrested him once he handed over the money.
Mr. Gomez said that unfortunately entrapment was not a defence in The Bahamas.
Mr. Gomez asked the magistrate to consider giving both men conditional discharges.
He said that a conviction would affect the renewal of the liquor licenses for Palomino’s five restaurants and bars.
The magistrate fined Palomino $1,000 or eight months in prison and fined Woodside $500 or six months in prison.
The men faced a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment with a $5,000 fine.
Woodside has denied keeping the bar open past the mandatory closing time when he appeared before Magistrate Jeanine Weech-Gomez.
She freed him on $2,000 bail and he returns for trial on December 14.
