Akim Francis gets bail in alleged Jewelers International robbery

Francis has been granted bail in the matter
Francis has been granted bail in the matter

Akim Francis, of Atkinson, has been granted bail in the alleged Jewelers International robbery matter but he remains an inmate at the State Prison until all documents are in order for his release.

Francis now joins the rest of his co-accused, Craig Christian, Elrado Ducreay and Cynthia Dorsette who were allegedly involved in a $1.8-million robbery at Jewelers International, located at the Fort Young Hotel, over a month ago.

The others have been granted bail of EC$250,000 and Magistrate Bernard Pacquette, despite objections from the prosecution, has granted bail to Francis.

The prosecution’s objection to bail was based on the fact that the accused may abscond and the allegedly stolen items are yet to be recovered.

But Francis’ lawyer, Tiyani Behanzin, said that the prosecution had not provided any new information in the case and his client has spent enough time in custody under “inhumane conditions”.

He stated that Francis has been kept in the disgusting location of the security block in the State Prison with no water and is locked up for 18 hours a day.

He urged the court to discard the comments of the prosecution and grant bail to his client.

Magistrate Pacquette granted Francis bail in the sum of $250, 000 with two sureties. He is required, as a condition of his bail, to surrender all his travel documents, to report three times a week to the police station in the Kalinago Territory between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm and to refrain from interfering with any of the prosecution’s witnesses.

Francis will be released after court documents from the two bail sureties are brought to the court and the necessary documents signed.

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14 Comments

  1. Disappointed......Smh
    September 9, 2016

    My problem here is this Behanzin guy. How and why do you go from slapping criminals with time beyond what they’re supposed to serve, to representing them? Hell I guess Cash rules everything….every man has a price for their soul…. Interesting

  2. September 8, 2016

    If what you say about the murder, the fake passport, and false name is correct it is enough to cause people to lose confidence in the justice system.

    This kind of courtroom malpractice produces vigilante justice. When people come to the conclusion that there is no justice they will start taking care of themselves. Honestly, I hope you are wrong about this. I hope it will soon fade away and be forgotten. Otherwise, be prepared! The people may be poor but they are not stupid.

    Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.

  3. September 7, 2016

    In Canada many men re-offend while they are out on bail.

    Yet these are human beings with lives so badly messed up by sin the public thinks there is little future left for them.

    But God loved them enough to give His Son to die on the cross to pay their debt of sin. If they believe this, and receive HIM as their personal Savior they will be saved. This means they will be forgiven, and not only that but they will be delivered from the bondage of sin and given an entirely new beginning.

    Please get a Bible and read:

    Isaiah 53:5,6
    Romans 5:6-8
    John 3:16,17,36
    1 Corinthians 15:1-4
    Romans 1:16

    Listen now! The Bible says :

    “Therefore if any man be in Christ , he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, …” (2 Corinthians 5:17,18)

    Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist. (A teller of good news.)

  4. Anthony P. Ismael
    September 7, 2016

    That’s a fantastic move by the judge. He will not be convicted anyway, so why not collect some much needed revenue for the treasury. We have an inept prosecutorial team in Dominica, so do not hold your breath for a conviction. :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P

  5. September 7, 2016

    He can Run Now. we need the money in the treasury.

    • Tell the Facts
      September 7, 2016

      :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

  6. Not a herd follower
    September 7, 2016

    According to the article, ”The prosecution’s objection to bail was based on the fact that the accused may abscond.” DNO, how is this statement of a belief that there may be abscondment a fact?

    • Tell the Facts
      September 7, 2016

      Was he not residing in the USVI?
      Others have absconded. The prosecution is not wrong.
      Approximately two years ago, I recall reading on DNO that a Laudat man murdered a man. His last name was Bertrand from also Laudat. The man was not immediately arrested. The following day he was arrested and granted bail. For whatever reason, the DPP gave him permission to leave D/ca. He was supposed to return that year in September for his hearing. I have not heard a thing that he returned and the case was called.
      Remember the man who also absconded. I think he was wanted for rape. The police in Antigua found out where he stayed. The result of this was, he was shot dead.
      These two are not the only ones. Some go to Guadeloupe. They could have gone to other countries. The Law should take no chances with them. This is why they should not be granted bail and in a case as this where expensive Rolex watches worth $18 M were stolen and have not yet been found.

    • September 8, 2016

      Read what it actually says.

      It says “the accused MAY abscond.” It is a fact that he MAY. How is this a fact? It is a fact because he has the opportunity to do so.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.

  7. Tell the Facts
    September 6, 2016

    Was one of them not wanted for the murder of a woman in USVI? They had two passports, one with their name and the other fictitious. When they traveled to Dominica, they had two passports and two different names, Is this not what they did? And they are granted bail?

    • September 8, 2016

      If what you say is true it is no wonder people are losing confidence in the justice system.

      This is very bad because it spawns vigilante justice. When people give up on the system they are forced to take care of themselves. Sorry, but only very stupid people are going to leave themselves without some kind of justice. This is not most Dominicans. Just be prepared.

      But then what you have said about two passports and two different names may not be correct and may go nowhere. I sure hope you are wrong and that this will fade out and be forgotten.

      God have mercy on Dominica.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist. (Former licensed Private Investigator)

      • September 8, 2016

        :oops:

        Sorry for the repetition. Either my computer malfunctioned or something happened at DNO. When my first comment did not appear on the screen I repeated it (in slightly different wording) and then both appeared at once, so you have it twice. I did not do it this way for effect but I do mean every word of it.

        Sincerely, Rev. Don Hill.

  8. CRIME STOPPERS
    September 6, 2016

    case and jail time without evidence…. hmm that is surely strange

    • Tell the Facts
      September 7, 2016

      A true Crime Stopper would never make such a comment.

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