Bottom row: Craig Christian, Michael Magloire, Jason Dubique
Six individuals who have been arrested and charged with the robbery at Jewelry International at Fort Young Hotel on May 21, 2016 have been denied bail by Magistrate Bernard Pacquette.
Cynthia Dorsette, Elrado Ducreay and Craig Christian are charged with conspiracy to rob along with other persons unknown. While St. Maarten national Michael Magloire and Jason Dubique along with Akin Anton Francis are charged with robbery and conspiracy to rob along with persons unknown.
The prosecution led by Inspector Michael Laudat told the court if granted bail the accused will flee the country given the “severity of the offense and the penalty if convicted.”
Laudat also told the court that they are yet to recover the 45 Rolex watches valued at EC$1.8-million and if bail was granted, they will interfere with the prosecution witnesses and pervert the course of justice.
The prosecution brought Inspector Robertson Laurent, who is leading the investigating, to testify in the bail matter.
Laurent told the court that the 45 watches are yet to be recovered and he believed that “they are still in Dominica” and will be recovered. He also stated that the police have so far done searches at homes of the accused and are doing lots of work in order to have them recovered.
“I am aware that this crime has an international connection and if bail is granted to those charged, they will hinder the recovery of the watches and would significantly interfere with the investigations,” Laurent told the court.
He also stated that some of the items used in “the commissioning of the crime are yet to be recovered” although he pointed out that they had so far recovered one gun but said the police believe that more than one gun was used and they are in search of it.
But lawyers of the accused Peter Alleyne, Darius Jones, Glen Ducreay and Gina Dyer Munro, who is holding papers for Joshua Francis, told the court that the prosecution had “not provided a shred of evidence to support its claim” and that the accused had a constitutional right to bail since they “were innocent until proven guilty.”
The prosecution, they claimed, had not “substantiated its application for denial of bail” and that it should be rejected.
“The prosecution must come with proper evidence to move the court, the test is if granted bail whether they will appear for their trial, the evidence led by the prosecution is weak, they are on a fishing expedition,” Jones told the court.
But Magistrate Bernard Pacquette said the prosecution’s case was based on two grounds: ‘hindering justice and absconding.’ He ruled that the prosecution had “brought not a shred of evidence to prove its case of absconding” but on the issue of hindering justice” the same cannot be said.
The evidence of Inspector Laurent, he said, was “very telling” given the fact that he spoke about the “international connection”. He said he believed the evidence of Inspector Laurent was interesting, that the defense did not “cross examine him” and he wondered why.
He ruled that bail was denied and will be reviewed in 30 days time.
All the lawyers concerned gave notice to the court that they will again be applying for bail before the 30 day period.
Meantime, Akim Anton Francis will have his bail application heard on June 10, 2016. His lawyer Tiyani Behanzin has filed a matter claiming that the state has “abused the process” and is seeking to have that matter heard before the bail application.
Cynthia are u serious??? I never expect that girl to have a mug shot..no sa.well at least not for that. .are u kidding me…guidance and protection pal. .
Criminals are enemies of the State, enemies of society. They are not the friends of people and society in general. They are against a law-abiding life. They are self-centered and go about stealing, shooting and killing not caring who their victim is and what they do to them.
They project that they hate their own nationals. Why else would they commit to a life of crime and some heinous ones?
When they are caught, they expect the same State to pay their defense bills at the expense of the same people they have wronged, the taxpayers, their victims.
Why should they be granted bail? Keep them incarcerated!
The democratic world is too lax which is why crimes escalate.
This is what the people should take a stance against. Those who want a happy, peaceful and safe life will do just that and speak against allowing those criminals out in society. Once out, their aim is to continue to ply their evil trade. Do not grant them bail!
people look out detective on the airport pulling people out of thier checking line asking question and giving good serch for the watches,i felt so bad ,that was the worst experince i had ,the detective need to be careful the way they address thier self to people,they are not professional,hate the the way they do things
So why is that bail is denied for that robbery but when is a Murder bail is always given ? I wonder if is because we are speaking of Fortyoung.
You know why bail was denied? Cause they stole from Nassief who many people bow down to. I\’m not against people being denied bail – But I have been coming here on DNO for some time now, and almost 100% of criminals are granted bail for more serious activities. Steal from the poor and your bail is sure. If you steal from the rich, they are the law.
Robbery of $18M worth of Rolex watches with guns and masks; two of them are wanted in St. Martin for murder of a young woman and you make such a comment? You have no sense.
In brief:
Gang allegedly involved in 3 Toronto murders eradicated after raids: police
by News Staff – 680 News
Posted Jun 3, 2016 5:55 am EDT
Last Updated Jun 3, 2016 at 4:47 pm EDT
A ruthless street gang believed to be responsible for three Toronto homicides has been effectively dismantled, Toronto police chief Mark Saunders boasted on Friday while showing off a frightening cache of handguns and drugs seized during Project Sizzle.
The series of raids at dozens of locations Thursday targeted a gang called the Heart of a King (HOK), that police allege were involved in homicides, drug dealing, shootings, firearm trafficking and fraud and prostitution.
Fifty-three arrests in total were made, with several in Montreal.
Police says 17 firearms were seized during Project Sizzle, as well marijuana, cocaine, ketamine, expensive jewellery, body armour and around $45,000 in cash.
Several suspected gang members are facing murder charges in those cases.
Chief Saunders said the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected in the near future.
He also had a message for those seduced by the allure of fast money through crime.
“These type of lifestyles are always short lived,” he said. “I’ve never seen longevity in people who invest in street gang activity.”
There is more.
They robbed with guns and masks and approximately $18M in Rolex watches stolen. Why should they be granted bail? This is enough not to grant them bail.
They had a plan and it is to hide the watches somewhere. If the houses where they resided have wooden floors, they should be ripped out to see whether the watches are hidden there. Who knows? The loot could be hidden there.
Check all lockers and behind them and underneath them including under roofs; also trees – tree trunks in the yards, if any In addition, fridges and stoves.
Search every cranny and nook all over Dominica. Someone or some people other than they know where they are hidden.
They have cellulars, etc., those lines should have been searched for communication.
Why stealing so much from someone’s business maybe they were going to open a jewelery store. It’s a good thing the police caught them before robbing another business. They are where they belong.
Funny thing is they don’t have evidence on some of those people. So your statement might be incorrect . They just wanted to pin it on someone so they do not look incompetent
You have no evidence and you have ppl lock up that should be states to sue the state,,,these cops so dumb if is them that really do that which I don’t think so how u going ever recover the items if they lock up, let them be free so they can Tampa with the item and investigate…easy case to win cuz no items will be recovered trust me
Job well done your honour. Teach them the lesson that they did not learn when they were kids, which is (respect peoples property, see people things and leave it alone, dont theif people things)Instill some good moral values in them all.
The young lady mother has passed away. And the court is denying bail. How is she going to go to her mother’s funeral. When ppl do not know facts stop talking stupidness.. U grant bail and take the passport. And visit police twice a week. When the police murder the man in the cell, what was there bail? What was there out come. Where are they now? And all you want the watches? As if that exit Dominica already. How long they looking for it? How much ppl police hold to question? This case has gotten completely ridiculous. What goes around in the law system will come back around?
somebody tell her go and still man she wrong.
If she wants to go to her mother’s funeral and is granted permission, the police should escort her. Since you are so concerned, you could offer to drive them to the funeral and back.
The woman is a criminal. You know very well what she did. Do you expect Dominicans to feel sorry for her?
She had a good teacher’s career and she blew it.
Look at her associates, her partners in crime.
Look at what she found herself into. She should have known better.
They get harsh treatment because the crime was economic, potentially depriving the government of tax revenue. Had the crime been murder or rape they’d be out on bail.
Good job! These criminals belong in jail and not in the public domain.
Hold your Magistrate Pacquette, yes bail in quick timw is a no! No! best we hand all of them a passport to leave the country. Common scense must prevail, notice they giving the Ex police, turned Magistrate?/ Lawyer all the tough cases. But we have confidence in You Comrade. Hope our officers search under every stone by the rivers, in the forest, in delapidated vehicles, boats, track their cell phones in order to determine their movements before and after their alleged crime. We cannot allow this one to Fail.
GREAT…. I am happy… lets ensure that bail is not granted until the watches have been recovered. Keep them locked up until
i am hearing the only lady on here that her mum died as a result of the pain
sad times ahead
Imagine how shocking it was for her what her daughter did.
God knows a mother’s love.
May her mother’s soul rest in peace. Amen!
They got faces only a mother could love.
The lead investigator sounds like Perry Mason. I hope he will be able to wrap up those smart lawyers, who while the are working for their tons of dollars are encouraging more crime in this country and putting ordinary folks lives more at risk!!!!!!
Bail denied! Finally a semblance of common sense in our justice system where bail has been misused time and time again. I hope the case will be tried without delay because to keep accused on remand for years is no justice either.
Lets see what happen in this matter. Top notch lawyers involved, lets see the powers of the bright luminaries. Tony must get away with his criminal propositions in the face of truth and righteousness. Lets see how it goes now