Lawyer says girl was just going to college
Tears and cries of distress broke out in the St Ann’s Bay resident magistrates court on Tuesday, June 17 after six of eight people charged in relation to lottery scamming activities were denied bail. Eight people of Trysee District in Brown’s Town, St Ann, were arrested on Friday, June 13 after members of the Lottery Scam Task Force carried out operations on two premises in the district. However, only eight of the ten were charged for breaches of the Fraudulent Reform Act while two others were released. Charged are 47-year old Robert Hodges (Snr), his wife 50-year-old Sonia Green-Hodges, their son 25-year-old Robert Hodges Junior and 29-year-old Damion Davidson. Also charged are 23- year-old Devar Hodges, 18-year-old Kristen Hodges, 29-year-old Simone Walker and a 17-year old-male. When the eight accused appeared in court, only Robert Hodges (Snr ) and his wife, Sonia Green Hodges were granted bail. They were granted bail at $450,000 each with one or two sureties and are to report to the Brown’s Town police station every Monday.
TECHNO SAVVY
Meanwhile, the other accused were denied bail as investigating officers from the Major Organized Crime and Anti-Corruption Task Force (MOCA) said granting them bail could interfere with the investigations. The officers told the court that the accused could access information they allegedly saved in cyber space and interrupt investigations if they were to be granted bail. The officers say they have reason to believe that information related to lottery scam were stored in cyber space and could be accessed by the accused who they say, are very technologically savvy. “Your Honor, we are objecting bail on the basis that if they are to be granted bail, they can access information at any internet café even though we have seized all their gadgets,” said Mark Williams, one of the investigating officers. He further explained that this is because information was stored virtually. On the other hand, bail was granted to the senior Hodges and his wife on the grounds that they are small farmers and are not technologically inclined. Attorney representing one of the accused, Earnest Smith rubbished the claims made by the investigating officers stating that his client, Kristen Hodges is set to start college and being remanded might ruin her chances. Presiding RM Andrea Thomas however discounted the argument saying the officers have reasonable grounds to object to bail. The eight are to return to court on Tuesday, June 24. RM Thomas ordered the officers to speed up their investigations and access all the information allegedly stored in cyberspace before the next court hearing. The six who were denied bail, including two women left the court crying and holding on to family members who were present in court for the hearing. Several police officers had to chase some of the family members out of the court as they broke down crying and in some instances falling to the floor. Reports are that the lottery scam task force and the Area Two operational support team carried out special operations about 5:00 a.m. in the Trysee District Friday, June 13. Four premises were searched. One motor car was seized as well as several lead sheets and compact discs containing personal information of persons living overseas. Several laptop computers, mobile phones and flash drives were also seized, police said.
