No Police Report, Another Tourist Charged with Ammunition Possession

By Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Reporter

#TurksandCaicos, August 18, 2023 – Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police have not reported that another tourist was arrested in early August, charged and released on bail pending a sufficiency hearing or an emergency expedited hearing as is customary when visitors are charged and placed before the courts on criminal offenses, but a man visiting the islands is facing the serious offence.

On Thursday 10th August, 2023, MICHAEL ALLAN GRIM was arraigned before The Honorable Chief Magistrate Mr Jolyon Hatmin; he was charged with illegally being in possession of 20 rounds of 9mm ammunition at the Howard Hamilton International Airport in Providenciales on 01st August, 2023.

The accused, escorted by Police having arrived about 40-minutes late for court and his attorney Oliver Smith KC, who appeared by video link at the Magistrate’s Court were waiting for the arrival of his client and the start of court.

Smith KC, began inquiring as to why the hearing had not yet started, and where was his client?

Court officials told Mr. Smith, KC through the link that Police sent word to the Court saying they were having transportation problems and would therefore arrive late.  Immediately upon the arrival of defendant Grim, the case was called.

The accused was placed in the defendant’s dock, the sole count of possession of ammunition was read to him but he was not required to enter a plea as the charge is not one for the Magistrate’s Court.  The matter was transferred to the Supreme Court for sufficiency hearing on October 6, 2023.

The Hon Chief Magistrate told the accused, he has no jurisdiction and would be unable to hear any bail application.

He said, ‘I am sure your attorney may have advised you.’

Judge Hatmin then remand the accused to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation until October 6, 2023 for his sufficiency hearing.

Attorney for Grim immediately requested of the court, that the police would not immediately send his client up to Grand Turk as he was in the process of filing a bail application in the Supreme Court.

That Supreme Court bail hearing on Friday August 11, resulted in bail being granted for Michael Grim.

His lordship the Hon. Mr Justice Davidson Kelvin Baptiste, granted bail in the sum of $10,000 with surety and reporting to police station twice per week, as well as surrendering of all travel documents.

These bail conditions will remain in effect until his matter is called in the Supreme Court and reached it’s final conclusion.