Alesia Edwards
A man charged in relation to an alleged sexual offence fell on the mercy of senior resident magistrate for St. Ann Andrea Thomas after claiming he has no one to bail him. The magistrate lowered the accused man’s bail bond by $20,000, to $60,000 after hearing a sad story which included his alleged attempts at suicide while in police lock up.
According to Ricardo Johnson, he has been languishing behind bars for some six months, because he has been unable to post the $80,000 bail offered to him.
The man claimed he has no one to bail him and that he has been unable to make contact with relatives because the police have been unwilling to help him.
BROTHER OVERSEAS
In court last Thursday, March 5, Johnson said he was suffering behind bars because he has been unable to post bail. He claimed the only person who can bail him is his brother who resides overseas. Pressed by the magistrate for further information Johnson said he has a cousin who could possibly help but he claimed the police have not allowed him to make contact with anyone.
He later told the court that his cousin was in a worse position than he was, financially and that he assisted her with money before he was arrested.
“You are entitled to make contact with your relatives,” RM Thomas told the accused, before asking the police to ensure that Johnson is allowed contact with his relatives.
The accused told the court that he has $250,000 in his bank account which he could use to post the bond, but said he is the only one who can access his bank account.
NO ONE TO BAIL
“I have no one to bail me, Your Honour,” the accused said. He was however told that the offence for which he is charged is a very serious one and he could not be allowed bail in his own surety.
After a lengthy discussion with Johnson, the magistrate reduced his $80,000 bond to $60,000 with up to three sureties. “Three people can come together and bail you,” RM Thomas told the accused.
The accused also told the court that he has a medical condition that required attention.
“I have given you bail, Sir,” RM Thomas told Johnson.
According to Johnson he has a hernia. He said doctors are willing to operate on him but said it cannot be done while he is in custody.
PAIN
Johnson also told the court that because of the unwillingness of the police to assist him, even while he fell ill in custody, he had to attempt suicide to get some attention.
According to him, he attempted to hang himself in jail, because of excruciating pain he was experiencing and the police’s failure to take him to seek medical attention.
“I wasn’t going to kill myself I just did it to get some attention,” he told the court.
The court was told that he has been assessed for legal aid representation, however, he is yet to make his contribution.
Johnson told the court that if he receives bail he would not need legal aid but would pay a lawyer to represent him.
