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Four Haitians face court for illegal migrant case; three reportedly found hiding in Closet

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By Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Reporter

 

 

#TurksandCaicos, June 5, 2023 – It is DELIVERANCE CHERENFANT, 56 who was allegedly found with three  irregular Haitians hiding in her apartment on May 2, 2023 behind Mara, Blue Hills Providenciales.

Immigration officials brought the female accused and the three found hiding out before The Honorable Chief Magistrate, Jolyon Hatmin on  Tuesday 30th and Wednesday 31st May 2023 to answer to charges relating to Immigration offences.

Cherenfant is charged with three counts of harbouring illegal immigrants and she was granted bail to return to court on June 22, 2023.

The three individuals – two males and one female – allegedly found in the closet behind two separately locked doors, in her premises by Turks and Caicos Immigration authorities have all been sent to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in Grand Turk.

The 37-year-old woman, Jeannie Pierre was on May 31st sentenced to six months imprisonment for unlawful entry.  She told the court through her attorney Finbar Grant that she knew it was wrong to illegally enter the TCI and that she left a child behind in her home country of Haiti.

The second individual found by Immigration in the apartment was Fredlin Desronvil. He pleaded guilty to unlawful entry, but when questioned by the Hon. Chief Magistrate Hatmin he said he didn’t know he was coming Turks and Caicos.

He said through his counsel Finbar Grant, that his grandmother told him he was going get a job.

He never knew he was actually traveling to another country.  He said he did not even know of Turks and Caicos.  He was just following what his grandmother told him and that he was going to get a job.

The learned Chief Magistrate having heard this, refused to accept Desronvil’s guilty plea and entered a not guilty plea for the record in order for the matter to be properly examined in a trial on June 16, 2023 before the Grand Turk resident Magistrate.

He was remanded to prison pending that trial.

The third defendant’s case outcome will be conveyed in a future news report.

Crime

United States Tourist Guilty says TCI Police in Conviction Report

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#TurksandCaicos, September 19, 2023 – A 26-year-old male has been sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment having pleaded guilty to Possession of Ammunition.

Michael Allan Grim Jr. of Paoli Pike Floyds, Indiana was today (September 18th) sentenced. Mr. Grim was arrested on August 01st, 2023, and subsequently charged, after one black magazine, containing 20 rounds of 9mm ammunition was found in his luggage, whilst at the Providenciales International Airport.

During the investigation, Mr. Grim was interviewed by detectives of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force and admitted the ammunition belonged to him.

Head of Crime, Safeguarding, and Public Protection Superintendent Dean Holden in a brief statement said: “The laws of the Turks and Caicos Islands regarding the possession of firearms and ammunition is very clear. The laws are clearly defined as to the requirements needed in obtaining permission for possession of firearms and ammunition when traveling to the TCI. The laws apply to everyone and will be enforced.”

Officers of the Serious Crime Unit of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force investigated the matter.

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Crime

Murder No. 14 in Kew Town; No Identity, No Leads Police ask for HELP

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Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

 

#TurksandCaicos, September 11, 2023 – The Kew Town Community was the scene of the country’s latest recorded murder according to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police which rushed to the community on Saturday September 2nd after yet another shooting.

It was the country’s 14th confirmed homicide and came one week after a married couple was showered with bullets resulting in the death of the husband, Jevanio Williams.

In an update on the killing, police in a brief communication said the victim was shot multiple times.

“Based on preliminary police reports, shortly after 6 p.m., residents reported hearing gunshots.

Calls were placed to the Police Control Room and a team of detectives arrived at the given location in Walter Cox Drive, where they saw a male with what appeared to be gunshot wounds about the body lying motionless on the ground.”

The male victim, who has yet to be formally identified, was pronounced deceased at the scene by medical officials.

Detectives continued investigations over the weekend, to establish the events surrounding the murder.  The victim is said to have been shot in the head; assassination style.

Police, in revealing some details of the attack also launched an appeal for information in the crime.

“We are seeking the assistance of the public in identifying the deceased male victim who was dressed in a red t-shirt, dark short pants, and dark trainers.

The victim is approximately 35-40 years old, of medium build, and is believed to be of Haitian descent.

The public is being asked to contact 911, the closest police station, or call TCI Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 and give any information on this murder or any other illegal activity anonymously.”

During last year, the RTCIPF has been working on information gathering to classify which murders are related to gang activity.  Sadly, this is another murder where there is no information regarding a motive or the identity of the victim, making categorization of the event near impossible.

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Crime

Migrant Vessel Landing

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#TurksandCaicos, September 2, 2023 – At approximately 10:10 pm on Tuesday, 29th August 2022, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Maritime Operations personnel onboard one of its maritime vessels contacted the 911 Police Control room and reported that they were in pursuit of what appeared to be a large wooden illegal vessel (sloop) carrying an estimated 200 people, making its way to the general area of North West Point, Providenciales.

The sloop failed to comply with instructions given by the Police and continued to make its way to shallow waters. The Police vessel was unable to get any closer in such shallow water. The migrant vessel ran aground, and its passengers began jumping into the water and ran to the shore.

It is believed the migrants landed somewhere between the Chrystal Bay and Malcolm Bay areas. Officers from the Maritime Operations immediately commenced rescue efforts in the surrounding waters, and one male and a small child were safely removed from the vessel. It is believed all the remaining migrants made it to land.

The time of the incident prohibited the responding agencies from conducting further searches however, coordinated search efforts led by the RTCIPF and supported by other agencies, resumed on Wednesday, 30th August with various resources deployed at strategic areas in an effort to locate and detain as many irregular migrants as possible.

This remains an ongoing multi-agency operation.

Thus far, a number of illegal migrants, including children have been located and detained.

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