The Tribune

A MAGISTRATE seized $70,000 in US currency from a woman who attempted to take the money out of the country, while granting $50,000 bail to a pilot accused of the same offence regarding $150,000.

Mariana St Natis of Faith Gardens and Troy Johnson of Freeport, Grand Bahama were separately arraigned on one charge of attempted exportation of restricted goods.

Both offences allegedly occurred on Tuesday, February 12 at the Lynden Pindling International Airport.

The 23-year-old woman was arraigned first and pleaded guilty.

In response to her early plea of guilt, and taking into account the defendant’s lack of prior charges, Deputy Chief Magistrate Carolita Bethell convicted her, but sentenced her two years probation with the stipulation that she not be arrested or brought before the courts again.

If this condition is breached, she will serve a year in Her Majesty’s Prison.

Regional Airways pilot Troy Johnson, 41, pleaded not guilty to the charge when he was arraigned next, explaining that even though he received the package the money was found in, he did not know it was in there.

Prosecutor ASP Ercel Dorsett did not object to the pilot being granted bail and did not ask that his travel documents be surrendered.

The magistrate, noting attorney Joseph Moxey’s submissions that his client had no previous brushes with the law, has children and has a good job, granted the accused $50,000 bail and an early trial date.

Johnson must report to the Central Police Station in Freeport every Saturday until he appears back in Nassau for trial on June 16.
St Natis was represented by Shaka Servill in yesterday’s proceedings.