Bimini Boys Sent to Jail for December Riot

Freeport, Grand Bahamas – Three Bimini male residents were formally charged in the Freeport Magistrate Court Monday afternoon (25.2.08), in connection with the major disturbance that broke out on that island on the 22nd December 2007, which resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage being done to both government and private property, including the total destruction of two buildings.

The three suspects: Andre Roberts, 19 yrs; Lawrence Rolle, 39 yrs and Lorrick Roberts Jr, 21 yrs, all of Bailey Town, were arrested early on Monday morning (25.2.08) and flown to Grand Bahama under police escort.

The trio faced ten criminal charges in court: 7 counts of arson; 2 counts of causing damage by fire and 1 count of causing material damage.

The prosecution is alleging that on Saturday 22nd December 2007, at Alice Town, Bimini, being concerned together and with others, did intentionally and unlawfully:

• Caused the police dormitory to be set on fire, with intent to destroy the same, the property of the Bahamas Government;

• Caused a duplex building, the property of the Bahamas Government, to be set on fire, with intent to destroy the same;

• Caused a 17 ft Boston Whaler boat, the property of the Bahamas Government, to be set on fire, with intent to destroy the same.

• Charges will be also be brought against other persons,in connection with the Bimini incident.

• Caused a 32 ft Manta Ray boat, the property of the Bahamas Government, to be set on fire, with intent to destroy the same;

• Caused a 2006 Ford Echo Jeep, the property of the Bahamas Government, to be set on fire, with intent to destroy the same;

• Caused a 17 ft Twin-Vee speedboat, the property of Cpl 1277 Sweeting, to be set on fire, with intent to destroy the same;

• Caused a silver 2004 Nissan Sentra car, the property of Pc 243 Cambridge, to be set on fire,with intent to destroy the same;

DAMAGE BY FIRE
• Caused material damage by fire to the Alice Town Police Station, the property of the Bahamas Government, in the amount of $15,000.

• Caused material damage by fire to an assortment of police uniform, accoutrements, clothing, furnitures, electronic equipment, jewellery and two Bahamian Passports, altogether valued at $21,033.

• Caused material damage to a 1993 Nissan Sentra car, the property of the Bahamas Government, in the amount of $416.50 cents.

As these are indictable offences,the three defendants were not required to enter pleas.
Magistrate Debbye Ferguson adjourned the cases to the 28 th May 2008, for a Preliminary Inquiry, and remanded the defendants to Her Majestys Prison, Fox Hill, until that date.