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by pltm
(PLTM) - Jerome Hopkins Jr., Danny Dennevil and Cassini Skelton have been hauled before the Magistrate’s court for their involvement in facilitating the entry of 28 illegal immigrants into the British Virgin Islands.
The trio was jointly charged with Harbouring and Assisting in Illegal Entry, when they appeared before Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards via Zoom today Tuesday, November 30.
According to the court, the men allegedly committed the offence between the 20th to the 23rd of November at Hopkins apartment in Baughers Bay, where, without lawful excuse, they assisted the illegal immigrants' entry and harboured them unbeknownst to the Immigration authorities.
Meanwhile, Skelton and Dennevil were charged with another charge of Illegal Entry. This offence, the Crown said occurred on November 20.
Allegations
According to Crown Counsel Kristian Johnson on November 24 police and immigration officers converged on a property belonging to Hopkins Jr. in Baugher’s Bay.
The officers had received information that several individuals had arrived illegally in the territory and were being housed at the property.
He said when the authorities arrived, they met 14 persons hiding at the apartment and the officers witnessed three additional immigrants fleeing the residence into nearby bushes and made good their escape.
All 14 persons were taken into custody; six were Haitians, seven were Venezuelans and one was Peruvian, and after making checks it was determined that they all landed in the territory illegally.
Several of them were interviewed with the assistance of interpreters and based on investigations, it was revealed that on Saturday, November 20, a vessel transporting 28 passengers departed from St. Maarten and they all paid their passages to be taken to St. John, USVI.
The Crown informed that the journey was supposed to be just over four hours but it ended up being 8 hours due to engine failure.
At some point in the journey, Skelton contacted Dennevil to render assistance to bring the immigrants on BVI shores.
They arrived into the territory sometime in the afternoon on Sunday 21st November.
Skelton was the boat captain and Dennevil assisted him.
Upon arrival, they were informed that the remaining journey to the USVI would cost them an additional $1000 from each of them. They were subsequently brought onshore and transported to the Baugher’s Bay property via bus.
The Venezuelan nationals were able to pay their way to the USVI and they only spent one night at the property and they departed on Monday 22nd November.
Counsel Johnson said Hopkins Jr. made several visits to the property and he charged $100 per night for each night per occupant. Investigation indicates that the men planned on making extra cash from the illegal immigrants.
Dennevil collected cash via Western Union on behalf of some of the immigrants and Skelton handed over cash to Hopkins Jr.
They were also concerned that the Haitians were unable to pay the additional fee to the USVI and the cost of being in the said property.
The probe also revealed that Hopkins Jr. had a conversation with a police officer where he informed him that he rented his property to someone and found that he was keeping some Haitians there and that he wanted them out.
On November 26 at about 7.30 pm the investigators interviewed witnesses at the Castle Maria Hotel and defendants Dennevil and Skelton were identified as the men who brought them to the BVI.
The duo was then arrested on suspicion of smuggling and was cautioned but made no reply. Their mobile phones were seized upon their arrest and their phones were examined and certain information pertinent to the probe was documented.
The duo was subsequently interviewed, Skelton did not answer any of the questions put to him but his co-accused Dennevil admitted visiting the property along with Skelton to take food to two Venezuelans residing there.
Dennevil also admitted to giving details of his identity to two persons and he received cash on their behalf via Western Union which he kept for himself and he said it was done to facilitate their transportation to the USVI however he never fulfilled that obligation.
Skelton and Dennevil were then charged with the offences before the court.
Later on, Hopkins Jr. voluntarily came to the police station and was arrested on suspicion of Assisting in Illegal Entry and said he rented the property but was unaware of what was taking place there.
He also denied the allegations put to him and was later charged with the offences before the court.
Bail
After hearing legal submissions, Senior Magistrate Richards offered Hopkins Jr. bail in the sum of $40,000 bail with one surety and denied his co-accusers bail.
Among his bail conditions, Hopkins Jr. is 6 pm to 6 am curfew and the photo of the exact location of his home via GPS from the Town and Country Planning was also ordered.
The matter was then adjourned to January 12 2022.
Defendant Dennevil is represented by Attorney Stephen Daniels, Skelton is represented by Attorney Leroy Jones and Hopkins Jr by Attorney Valerie Gordon.
