Nassau, BAHAMAS-A policeman arrested for a curfew breach could face internal disciplinary action.
Officers arrested their colleague outside a bar in Cumberbatch Alley around 4pm on April 23, where seven civilians were playing dominoes.
The constable’s family owns the bar. He was at the lock-up in Police Headquarters when the civilians appeared in court on Friday.
Julietta Bain, 38; Latisha Woodside, 26; Shantia Mackey,41; Jean Ale, 54; Emmanuel Louis, 42; Patchranell Evans,27; and Wilkins Oscar, 26, pleaded guilty to breaking the national curfew when they appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney.
Prosecutor Bridgette Strapp said officers acting on information went to the Cumberbatch Alley, where they saw a group of people sitting down and playing dominoes.
Sgt Strapp said the officers asked them whether they were aware of the 24-hour curfew, which restricts residents to their homes unless they are conducting essential business.
The magistrate ordered Mackey, Ale, Louis, Evans, and Oscar to each pay fines of $400 to avoid spending four months in prison.
McKinney fined Bain $250 or three months in prison. And, the magistrate banned Woodside from any other curfew breaches for a year. If she’s arrested for breaking the curfew during this period, she would have to pay a $500 fine to avoid three months in prison.
The nationwide curfew implemented on March 20 aims to stem community spread of the coronavirus.
As of today, there are 73 local cases of COVID-19, with 11 deaths. Globally, there are 2.8 million cases, including 198,532 deaths.
