Despite an attempt by the prosecution to have him kept in prison, Shakir Akil Waithe was granted an opportunity to spend Christmas with his family.
The 23-year-old of #70 Groves Cottage, St. George, was released on $5000 bail by Magistrate Douglas Frederick when he appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court today. Waithe was not required to plead to the charge of dishonestly assisting in the disposal of a motor car belonging to Ross Clarke on December 5, 2018, knowing or believing it to be stolen.
Prosecutor Station Sergeant Carrison Henry objected to the first-time offender being granted bail, citing the seriousness of the offence and that investigations were still at a delicate stage.
“Investigators are seeking other persons in relation to a spate of crime relative to other vehicles and these investigations are at a delicate stage,” Henry argued. “There are numerous agencies and persons under investigation and if granted bail we fear that the accused would interfere with those investigations.”
However, attorney-at-law Angela Mitchell-Gittens who represented Waithe maintained her client was no threat to those investigations.
“My client has spent the last seven days in custody. That is an inordinately long time… and after seven days how much more delicate can these investigations be?” she asked. “If the police are looking for other persons so what? What has that got to do with him? How will he stop the hundreds of police officers from finding these persons?” Mitchell-Gittens further questioned.
She contended that the prosecutor’s fear that her client would interfere with investigations was “baseless” and described Waithe as a “fit and proper candidate” for bail.
After listening to both arguments, Magistrate Douglas Frederick agreed with Mitchell-Gittens and granted the accused bail with a surety.
“I don’t see any reason to keep him. I don’t see how he could interfere with investigations,” the magistrate said.
Waithe will return to court on January 9, 2019, at the District ‘B’ Magistrates’ Court.
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