In Magistrate’s Court #9 and #2 thirty nine (39) foreign nationals were arraigned before Acting ChiefMagistrate Roberto Reckley and Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux respectively, for various immigration offences.

On Wednesday, 20th September 2023 in Magistrate’s Court #9 eleven (11) Ecuadorean nationals pled guiltyto the charge of Overstaying and were convicted and fined $500.00 or, in default of payment, serve twomonths at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS). On the charge of Illegal Landingone (1) Ecuadorean national pled guilty and was convicted and fined $300.00 or, in default of payment,serve one month at (BDOCS).

On Tuesday, 19th September 2023 in Magistrate’s Court #2 seven (7) Haitian nationals pled guilty to thecharge of Illegal Landing and was convicted and fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve one monthat (BDOCS). On the charge of Overstaying; twelve (12) Ecuadoreans and one (1) Dominican nationalpled guilty and were convicted and fined $500.00 or, in default of payment, serve three months at(BDOCS). One (1) Jamaican, one (1) Russian and four (4) Haitian nationals also pled guilty to the chargeand were convicted and fined $1,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve six months at (BDOCS).

Additionally, one (1) Haitian national pled guilty to charges of 1. Possession of a Forged Document, 2.Unlawful use of a Forged Document and 3. Knowingly Attempting to Mislead an Immigration Officer;whom was convicted and fined on counts 1 and 2 $2,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve nine monthsat (BDOCS) and count 3 $3,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve twelve months at (BDOCS).

Upon payment of all fines and completion of sentences, all migrants were ordered to be turned over to theDepartment of Immigration for deportation.

25 FOREIGN NATIONALS REPATRIATED FROM NEW PROVIDENCE

On Thursday, 21st September 2023 the Immigration Department effectively executed two (2) repatriationexercises from the Lynden Pindling Int’l Airport.

At approximately 8:30 a.m., a Flamingo Air chartered flight C6-MMK departed enroute to Cap Haitien,Haiti with eleven (11) Haitian nationals onboard; five (5) males, three (3) females and three (3) minors.Additionally, at 1:08 p.m., a Copa Airlines flight CM197 departed enroute to Panama City, Panama withfourteen (14) Ecuadorean nationals onboard; seven (7) males and seven (7) females.

The Department’s Deportation and Enforcement Units led the escorts. All security and health protocolswere observed as the safety and welfare of our officers, law enforcement counterparts and migrants remainsthe highest priority.

For more information, call the Public Relations Unit at 1-242-322-7530, visit our website atwww.immigration.gov.bs, or call our Investigation hotlines (anonymously) at 1-242-604-0249, 1-242-604-0171-2 or 1-242-604-0196.

In Magistrate’s Court #9 and #2 thirty nine (39) foreign nationals were arraigned before Acting Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley and Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux respectively, for various immigration offences. On Wednesday, 20th September 2023 in Magistrate’s Court #9 eleven (11) Ecuadorean nationals pled guilty to the charge of Overstaying and were convicted and fined $500.00 or, in default of payment, serve two months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS). On the charge of Illegal Landing one (1) Ecuadorean national pled guilty and was convicted and fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS). On Tuesday, 19th September 2023 in Magistrate’s Court #2 seven (7) Haitian nationals pled guilty to the charge of Illegal Landing and was convicted and fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS). On the charge of Overstaying; twelve (12) Ecuadoreans and one (1) Dominican national pled guilty and were convicted and fined $500.00 or, in default of payment, serve three months at (BDOCS). One (1) Jamaican, one (1) Russian and four (4) Haitian nationals also pled guilty to the charge and were convicted and fined $1,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve six months at (BDOCS). Additionally, one (1) Haitian national pled guilty to charges of 1. Possession of a Forged Document, 2. Unlawful use of a Forged Document and 3. Knowingly Attempting to Mislead an Immigration Officer; whom was convicted and fined on counts 1 and 2 $2,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve nine months at (BDOCS) and count 3 $3,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve twelve months at (BDOCS). Upon payment of all fines and completion of sentences, all migrants were ordered to be turned over to the Department of Immigration for deportation. 25 FOREIGN NATIONALS REPATRIATED FROM NEW PROVIDENCE On Thursday, 21st September 2023 the Immigration Department effectively executed two (2) repatriation exercises from the Lynden Pindling Int’l Airport. At approximately 8:30 a.m., a Flamingo Air chartered flight C6-MMK departed enroute to Cap Haitien, Haiti with eleven (11) Haitian nationals onboard; five (5) males, three (3) females and three (3) minors. Additionally, at 1:08 p.m., a Copa Airlines flight CM197 departed enroute to Panama City, Panama with fourteen (14) Ecuadorean nationals onboard; seven (7) males and seven (7) females. The Department’s Deportation and Enforcement Units led the escorts. All security and health protocols were observed as the safety and welfare of our officers, law enforcement counterparts and migrants remains the highest priority. For more information, call the Public Relations Unit at 1-242-322-7530, visit our website at www.immigration.gov.bs, or call our Investigation hotlines (anonymously) at 1-242-604-0249, 1-242- 604-0171-2 or 1-242-604-0196.

In Magistrate’s Court #9 twenty one (21) foreign nationals were arraigned before Acting ChiefMagistrate Roberto Reckley, for various immigration offences.

On Thursday 14th September 2023, on the charge of Overstaying; three (3) Haitian nationals pledguilty and were convicted and fined $1,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve two months at theBahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS), $1,500.00 or, in default of payment,serve two months at (BDOCS), and $1,500.00 or, in default of payment, serve three months at(BDOCS), respectively. In addition to the charge of Overstaying, the later Haitian national alsopled guilty to the charge of Knowingly Attempting to Mislead an Immigration Officer and wasconvicted and fined $500.00 or, in default of payment, serve three months at (BDOCS),sentencing to run concurrently. One (1) Columbian national pled guilty and was convicted andfined $1,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve two months at (BDOCS).

Additionally, on the charge of Illegal Landing one (1) American and two (2) Haitian nationalspled guilty, and were convicted and fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at(BDOCS).

On Tuesday 12th September 2023, one (1) Sri Lankan resident pled not guilty to the charge ofEngaging in Gainful Occupation, and was granted $2,000.00 bail and the case adjourned to 6th November, 2023.

On the charge of Illegal Landing; seven (7) Haitian nationals pled guilty and were convicted andfined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at the (BDOCS), and one convicted andfined $300.00 and serve two months at (BDOCS) or, in default of payment, serve an additionaltwo month at (BDOCS). One (1) Cuban national pled guilty and was convicted and fined $300.00or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS).

Further, to the charge of Overstaying; one (1) Jamaican national pled guilty and was convictedand fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve two months at (BDOCS). One (1) Dominicannational pled guilty and was discharged. Three (3) Haitian nationals pled guilty; two wereconvicted and fined $500.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS) and one$1,500.00 or, in default of payment, serve three months at (BDOCS).

Upon payment of all fines and completion of sentences, all migrants were ordered to be turnedover to the Department of Immigration for deportation.

The public is reminded that the Department is committed to executing our mandate to ensurecompliance with the Statue Laws of our country.

For more information, call the Public Relations Unit at 1-242-322-7530, visit our website atwww.immigration.gov.bs, or call our Investigation hotlines (anonymously) at 1-242-604-0249,1-242-604-0171-2 or 1-242-604-0196. 

In Magistrate’s Court #9 twenty one (21) foreign nationals were arraigned before Acting Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley, for various immigration offences. On Thursday 14th September 2023, on the charge of Overstaying; three (3) Haitian nationals pled guilty and were convicted and fined $1,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve two months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS), $1,500.00 or, in default of payment, serve two months at (BDOCS), and $1,500.00 or, in default of payment, serve three months at (BDOCS), respectively. In addition to the charge of Overstaying, the later Haitian national also pled guilty to the charge of Knowingly Attempting to Mislead an Immigration Officer and was convicted and fined $500.00 or, in default of payment, serve three months at (BDOCS), sentencing to run concurrently. One (1) Columbian national pled guilty and was convicted and fined $1,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve two months at (BDOCS). Additionally, on the charge of Illegal Landing one (1) American and two (2) Haitian nationals pled guilty, and were convicted and fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS). On Tuesday 12th September 2023, one (1) Sri Lankan resident pled not guilty to the charge of Engaging in Gainful Occupation, and was granted $2,000.00 bail and the case adjourned to 6th November, 2023. On the charge of Illegal Landing; seven (7) Haitian nationals pled guilty and were convicted and fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at the (BDOCS), and one convicted and fined $300.00 and serve two months at (BDOCS) or, in default of payment, serve an additional two month at (BDOCS). One (1) Cuban national pled guilty and was convicted and fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS). Further, to the charge of Overstaying; one (1) Jamaican national pled guilty and was convicted and fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve two months at (BDOCS). One (1) Dominican national pled guilty and was discharged. Three (3) Haitian nationals pled guilty; two were convicted and fined $500.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS) and one $1,500.00 or, in default of payment, serve three months at (BDOCS). Upon payment of all fines and completion of sentences, all migrants were ordered to be turned over to the Department of Immigration for deportation. The public is reminded that the Department is committed to executing our mandate to ensure compliance with the Statue Laws of our country. For more information, call the Public Relations Unit at 1-242-322-7530, visit our website at www.immigration.gov.bs, or call our Investigation hotlines (anonymously) at 1-242-604-0249, 1-242-604-0171-2 or 1-242-604-0196. 

A MAN was remanded in custody yesterday after he was accused of molesting a 5-year-old boy three times this year.

POLICE took Sidney Cooper, a serial groper whose prison release authorities publicised,  into custody for his own protection yesterday after he was wrongfully accused of trying to abduct a 12-year-old girl.

“Residents, assuming the culprit was Sidney Cooper, converged at his residence on Fifth Street, Coconut Grove, armed with rocks, bottles and cutlass,” police said in a statement advising that Cooper was not the culprit. #A viral video showed Cooper in cuffs as an officer detained him. The man recording the video threatened to attack him. #However, police said the real culprit was a tall, bald-headed, “bright” man who tried to abduct the girl yesterday. #Cooper was released from prison last week Friday. Police did not confirm up to press time whether he remained in custody.  #Yesterday’s incident may renew concerns among some about the spectacle of hosting a press conference warning the public about a sex offender’s release. #The Registration of Sex Offenders Regulations allow authorities to notify the public about offenders leaving prison to heighten awareness of their presence in an area. However, they do not specify how the public must be notified. #Cooper, who was convicted of 20 sexual assaults over nearly 20 years, is the second person about whom National Security Minister Wayne Munroe hosted a press conference to warn the public. #The first man, Alden Scott, 55, was found dead on a track road in Yellow Elder Gardens less than a week after he was released from prison. He reportedly suffered from injuries to his body. Authorities claimed he died from natural causes. #Cooper’s criminal history mainly involves indecent assault convictions.

“Residents, assuming the culprit was Sidney Cooper, converged at his residence on Fifth Street, Coconut Grove, armed with rocks, bottles and cutlass,” police said in a statement advising that Cooper was not the culprit.

A viral video showed Cooper in cuffs as an officer detained him. The man recording the video threatened to attack him.

However, police said the real culprit was a tall, bald-headed, “bright” man who tried to abduct the girl yesterday.

Cooper was released from prison last week Friday. Police did not confirm up to press time whether he remained in custody. 

Yesterday’s incident may renew concerns among some about the spectacle of hosting a press conference warning the public about a sex offender’s release.

The Registration of Sex Offenders Regulations allow authorities to notify the public about offenders leaving prison to heighten awareness of their presence in an area. However, they do not specify how the public must be notified.

Cooper, who was convicted of 20 sexual assaults over nearly 20 years, is the second person about whom National Security Minister Wayne Munroe hosted a press conference to warn the public.

The first man, Alden Scott, 55, was found dead on a track road in Yellow Elder Gardens less than a week after he was released from prison. He reportedly suffered from injuries to his body. Authorities claimed he died from natural causes.

Cooper’s criminal history mainly involves indecent assault convictions.