A St. Lucian national was on Tuesday granted EC$7,000 cash bail when he appeared before Magistrate Zoila Ellis-Browne on two sex charges.
Joven Alexander pleaded not guilty to a charge that on Oct. 27 at Clare Valley, he entered a dwelling house with the intention to assault a female therein.
He also pleaded not guilty to a charge that on the same date, at Clare Valley, with intent to commit the offence of indecent assault, on a lady, he did an act which was more than merely preparatory to the commission of the offence.
Prosecutor Shamrock Pierre objected to bail when Alexander was arraigned at the Calliaqua Magistrate’s Court.
The prosecutor noted that the accused man is a St. Lucian national, adding that given the porous nature of the Vincentian borders, the defendant could easily abscond, if granted bail.
He said the charges against Alexander are serious and asked that they be adjourned and transferred to the Family Court.
Pierre noted that the defendant was scheduled to leave St. Vincent on the same day that he was brought before the court.
He said the Crown feared that if granted bail, the defendant would not return to the country to stand trial.
But defence counsel, Grant Connell, noted to the court that his client came to St. Vincent and the Grenadines legally and “hasn’t broken any law, per se.
“These are allegations,” Connell said, adding that the assumption of innocence is manifested through bail
He said that while the matter can be transferred to the family court, the president of that court is not in the country, and it could be weeks before his client is brought to trial.
Connell further pointed out to the court that the offences are not such that persons accused of committing them are barred from receiving bail.
He further noted Alexander’s nationality and his status as an Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States citizen.
In addition to the bail sum, Ellis-Browne ordered Alexander to report to the Central Police Station in Kingstown on Mondays and Fridays between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. and to surrender his travel documents.
The matter was adjourned and transferred to the Family Court for hearing on Nov. 7.
These people appearance alone should deny them entry into our country.