The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN’s pregnancy did not win her leniency in a bail hearing before a magistrate ahead of her trial on fraud related charges.

Edricka Domesethene, a 21-year-old Haitian woman, was denied bail by Chief Magistrate Joyanne Ferguson-Pratt who took into consideration her pregnancy, but also considered the charges and her non-status in The Bahamas.

The woman, who is currently on remand at Her Majesty’s Prison, was informed last Friday of her right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

On November 20 before Magistrate‘s Court no. 8, Domesethene is to stand trial on three charges, uttering a false document, possession of a false document and deceit of a public officer.

Her lawyer, Geoffrey Farquharson, claims the charges stem from Domesethene’s application for residency in The Bahamas.

In arguing for bail, Mr Farquharson had said that his client’s nationality did not necessarily make her a flight risk and should not be an issue because she had grown up in the jurisdiction her entire life.

He further argued that his client’s present condition should be another consideration for being granted bail.

However, the chief magistrate denied bail having reviewed the nature of the case and the submissions.