By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
Bahamian man and two Haitians who were intercepted at sea in Bahamian waters by the US Coast Guard were charged in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Destry Fox, a 55-year-old Bahamian, appeared before Magistrate Charlton Smith in Court Two on the charge of assisting illegal embarkation.
The prosecution alleged that Fox was found on a vessel in waters off Bimini on Sunday, November 24, having assisted undocumented Haitian passengers Skay Neisha Charles and Illjonet Henry.
Fox and the Haitian migrants were on an 18ft vessel, which was intercepted by US Coast Guard officials on patrol in Bahamian waters.
Fox was suspected of being the captain of the vessel in an attempt to smuggle Haitian nationals into the US.
During his arraignment, he pleaded guilty to two counts of assisting illegal embarkation and was ordered to pay a fine of $5,000 or in default serve 18 months imprisonment.
The Haitians were also arraigned on charges of illegal embarkation and illegal landing.
Henry, 37, and Charles, 18, pleaded guilty to the charge and were ordered to pay a fine of $300 each or serve two months in prison.
He two also pleaded guilty to illegal landing, and were ordered to pay a fine of $300 each or serve two months in prison.
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