Bahamas Court News

ABACO-A magistrate fined 68-year-old Pericles Maillis $15,500 after he admitted to illegal possession three firearms and growing ganja.

The Defence Force discovered a marijuana farm on Maillis’ property while on patrols in Abaco over the weekend

They contacted police who found four unlicensed firearms—two rifles, a shotgun and a .38 revolver—and multiple rounds of ammunition when they searched his home.

Despite admitting to multiple breaches of the law, Maillis will avoid spending one year in prison by paying the fine.

Maillis pleaded guilty to drug cultivation, possession of unlicensed firearms, possession of ammunition with intent to supply and drug possession with intent to supply when he appeared before Magistrate Ancella Evans.

Police notified the media of the outcome of Maillis’ arraignment. It’s not known what mitigating factors the magistrate considered in sentencing, or if the prosecution will appeal the sentence.

NASSAU-Two former correctional officers are now inmates at the facility where they once worked.

The tables tuned on Mercette Pinder and Aryett Lightbourne after they defrauded the government in a sick slip scam.

The men turned in fake Public Hospital Authority sick certificates after they missed worked in 2018 and 2019.

But it turned out that neither man had registered at the Princess Margaret Hospital when they claimed a doctor had determined they were unfit for work.

Commissioner of Corrections Charles Murphy called in cops because he suspected the submitted sick slips were forgeries.

Pinder turned in two bogus sick slips, excusing him from work from November 24, 2018 through December 11, 2018. As a result, Pinder defrauded the government of $1,514.16.

For his part, Lightbourne missed six days from work in 2019, by presenting sick slips dated from May 8 through 10 and June 9 to June 11. Consequently, Lightbourne fraudulently obtained $360.96 in pay.

When arrested, both men claimed that they received the forged sick slips from nurses.

Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt said the men needed jail time in order to deter others from committing the same scam.

She sentenced Pinder to 60 days’ imprisonment and Lightbourne to 40 days’ imprisonment for uttering forged documents and fraud by false pretenses.

Both men could avoid spending another three months behind bars by paying fines totaling $1,000 and repaying the money they were paid.

Nassau- A hungry man, who threatened his relatives because there wasn’t anymore food, will be fed by the state for the next 10 days.

James Markland, 34, went to  sister’s house on August 26 looking for something to eat.

But he became enraged after she told him they’d run out of food.

Markland threw a rock, breaking a bedroom window. Then he threatened to fatally stab his siblings.

He apologised for his actions after he pleaded guilty to threats of harm on Friday.

Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain sentenced Markland to 10 days’ imprisonment.

Nassau- A landlord is accused of resorting to threats to get a tenant out of his place.

Prosecutors say Desmond Cooper went on Jasmine Strachan’s job on July 28 and threatened to harm her if she didn’t vacate his premises.

Cooper denied that claim at his arraignment on Friday before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain.

Cooper, of Port Del Mar, is free on $1,000 bail and his trial is set for October 20.

Nassau- An off-duty police reservist who had two run-ins with the law this week was charged on Friday.

Soon-to-be ex Sergeant Tess Pratt didn’t face internal disciplinary proceedings over her alleged behaviour.

Instead, officers brought her to court in handcuffs around 4pm Friday.

Prosecutors say on Monday, August 24, Pratt used obscene language to the annoyance of PC 4060 Outten.

She allegedly resisted arrest, assaulted Outten and damaged his uniform during the incident that allegedly stemmed from an eviction.

Then, on Thursday, August 27, Pratt allegedly broke coronavirus rules.

Prosecutors say that Pratt wasn’t wearing a mask and failed to follow social distancing protocols at Toote Shop Corner.

During that incident, Pratt allegedly behaved in a disorderly manner and resisted arrest.

Pratt didn’t have a lawyer at her arraignment before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Prat. She admitted the obscene language charge but denied the others.

Pratt didn’t have any family members or friends present to sign her bail.

As a result, she was remanded to prison until Monday.

Pratt worked at the Southern Police Station on Quakoo Street.