People must understand the seriousness of signing bail for accused.
So said Justice Pamela Beckles as she ordered a man to forfeit $20 000 of the $150 000 bail he signed for his brother.
Adika Ajamu Marville has to find the money in just over three months or face six months in prison.
“At the end of the day, people have to understand the seriousness of signing bail for persons. I always tell you think twice before you sign bail for anyone,” the judge said.
“We’ve got to send a message that we just can’t go and sign bail for persons and then don’t fulfil your obligations. Your obligation, when you signed the bail for him, was to see that each and every time the matter came on, that he turned up. That was your obligation when you agreed to sign bail for him,” she told the surety.
Adika had signed as surety for his brother Brian Chuckie Marville, of Madison Terrace, Deacons Farm, St Michael, who is accused of engaging in conduct – discharging a firearm in a public place – which placed Carlisle Carrington in danger of death or serious bodily harm; using a firearm without a licence and damaging Carrington’s car, all on October 19, 2018.
Adika was ordered to court after his brother failed to turn up for his dates.
Can’t find him
The brother admitted to the No. 5 Supreme Court yesterday that he had not been able to locate his sibling. He said his brother lived with his uncle and he asked his uncle for him.
“He said he hasn’t seen him either,” Adika said. “I ain’t see he for a couple weeks or a month.”
Justice Beckles, as she issued a warrant for Brian Marville’s arrest, said she was not happy with the efforts the sibling had made to locate his brother.
“I am not satisfied with your responses. Last week when they wanted me to forfeit some money from you, I said give him a chance to go and find the accused.
“But I am not satisfied with your efforts to do that and you’re going to have to fork out some money. That is why we always tell people think about it seriously,” the judge noted.
“If it is somebody that you can’t trust or if they don’t respect you, because if he had respected you he wouldn’t leave his uncle’s home and go living wherever and not notify you.”
“So, based on the nature of these charges, that is why I am going to have to take something from you so that the message will be sent to think seriously before you sign bail for somebody.”
The judge then ordered him to forfeit the $20 000 by November 6 or spend six months in prison. (HLE)
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