{"id":24219,"date":"2019-02-14T11:32:23","date_gmt":"2019-02-14T15:32:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=24219"},"modified":"2019-02-14T23:02:08","modified_gmt":"2019-02-15T03:02:08","slug":"commentary-when-justice-runs-from-the-innocent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/commentary-when-justice-runs-from-the-innocent\/","title":{"rendered":"COMMENTARY: When Justice Runs From The Innocent"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"antig-1657285573\" class=\"antig-ecab antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/discoverflow.co\/web\/antigua\" aria-label=\"ANU CVP Digital Broadband 1200x400_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:342\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1201\" height=\"401\"   \/><\/a><\/div><div id=\"antig-3759679187\" class=\"antig-before-content antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/medicalbenefitsscheme\" aria-label=\"mbs ad\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1200\/h:400\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/mbs-ad.jpeg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1200\/h:400\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/mbs-ad.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/mbs-ad.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:341\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/mbs-ad.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/mbs-ad.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1200\" height=\"400\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>By Rawlston Pompey <\/p><div id=\"antig-3545324919\" class=\"antig-content_5 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ablpag\" aria-label=\"ABLP_2026_Launch_English_Digital-BB\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:960\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ABLP_2026_Launch_English_Digital-BB-1.png\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:960\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ABLP_2026_Launch_English_Digital-BB-1.png 2160w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:150\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ABLP_2026_Launch_English_Digital-BB-1.png 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:512\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ABLP_2026_Launch_English_Digital-BB-1.png 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:384\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ABLP_2026_Launch_English_Digital-BB-1.png 768w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1536\/h:768\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ABLP_2026_Launch_English_Digital-BB-1.png 1536w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:960\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ABLP_2026_Launch_English_Digital-BB-1.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"2160\" height=\"1080\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Likened\nto Anthony \u2018Thug Life\u2019 Govia, wanted for a spectacular daylight robbery and the\ngun-slinging Calvin \u2018Burger\u2019 James, in brazen gunman-style, intending to\neliminate a sibling, but managed to reduce members of his family by one and the\nfemale population by two [October 5, 2018], both had been on the run from\njustice. While the former continues to be elusive, \u2018Burger\u2019 was caught and\nbrought to justice. Contrastingly, for two female Government employees, even as\nthey have been accused of committing certain cyber crime and have been jointly\ncharged [2015], they had never ran as to be declared \u2018&#8230;fugitives from\njustice.\u2019 That which has been known was said to be incessant pleas for the\nconduct of criminal trial to determine their innocence or guilt. Even for such\nreason, justice appeared to have been <strong>\u2018&#8230;Running\u2019<\/strong>\nfrom them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CRIMINAL INDICTMENTS<\/strong><\/p><div id=\"antig-3253089637\" class=\"antig-content_4 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/discoverflow.co\/web\/antigua\" aria-label=\"ANU CVP Digital Broadband 1200x400_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:342\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1201\" height=\"401\"   \/><\/a><\/div><div id=\"antig-2107774150\" class=\"antig-content_12 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ablpag\" aria-label=\"ABLP_2026_Launch_English-_lineup_Digital-BB (1)\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:960\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ABLP_2026_Launch_English-_lineup_Digital-BB-1.png\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:960\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ABLP_2026_Launch_English-_lineup_Digital-BB-1.png 2160w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:150\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ABLP_2026_Launch_English-_lineup_Digital-BB-1.png 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:512\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ABLP_2026_Launch_English-_lineup_Digital-BB-1.png 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:384\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ABLP_2026_Launch_English-_lineup_Digital-BB-1.png 768w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1536\/h:768\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ABLP_2026_Launch_English-_lineup_Digital-BB-1.png 1536w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:960\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ABLP_2026_Launch_English-_lineup_Digital-BB-1.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"2160\" height=\"1080\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Compounding\ntheir prosecutorial troubles was an unanswered letter purportedly written by\none of the accused to the prosecuting authority for the conduct of a trial for\npending <strong>\u2018&#8230;Criminal Indictments.\u2019<\/strong>\nAdditionally, while intervention by the Ombuds-Lady has brought no relief to\nthose crying out to be tried by a Jury of their peers, they had reasons to\nbelieve that at least an agent of the State had taken their concerns to the\nprosecuting authority. For many reasons, man has fought each other and suffered\nbrutal battering and bruising. Not infrequently, many have died not just for a\nworthy cause, but for the elusive concept called Justice. <\/p><div id=\"antig-3533797568\" class=\"antig-content antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ReggaeInTheParkAntigua\" aria-label=\"lucanio\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:864\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:864\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg 1080w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:240\/h:300\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg 240w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:819\/h:1024\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg 819w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:960\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1350\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>WHAT ARE THEY LIVING\nFOR?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Those\nthat have met their demise may have listened to this quote, <strong>\u2018&#8230;If a man has not discovered something\nhe will die for, he is not fit to live\u2019 [Martin Luther King Jr: January 15,\n1929 \u2013 April 4, 1968].<\/strong> While suspected criminals, including \u2018&#8230;mega-wealth\nfugitives\u2019 from other jurisdictions and those living in conditions that speak\nto squalor and indigence have either run from justice or sought haven from\nbeing returned to justice, two female accused and Government employees, have\nnot only been crying out for justice, but may have discovered something they\nwish to live for- <strong>\u2018&#8230;their freedom and\nliberty and their dignity and human worth, and most importantly, their families.\u2019<\/strong>\n<\/p><div id=\"antig-3075576755\" class=\"antig-content_2 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.courts.com\/antigua\/\" aria-label=\"500X500 (1)\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:500\/h:500\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/500X500-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:500\/h:500\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/500X500-1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:300\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/500X500-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:150\/h:150\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/500X500-1.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>NEXT CRIMINAL ASSIZES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>History\nwill not only speak to their experiences, but shall also reveal to posterity\ntheir apparent unending plight awaiting to be brought to justice for a crime\nthat appears to have flunked the \u2018&#8230;investigative and evidential tests and now\nseem poised to fail the litmus test of prosecution.\u2019 Accused of committing a\ncyber crime at a banking institution in \u2018&#8230;St. Vincent and the Grenadines\u2019 [October,\n2015], and in an alleged joint-enterprise of defrauding one of its banking\ninstitutions, in indecent haste, the two female accused were arrested and\ncharged with <strong>(i) \u2018&#8230;Conspiracy to\ncommit fraud; and (ii) &#8230;Receiving Stolen Property\u2019 within this jurisdiction.<\/strong>\nBoth were committed to stand trial at the <strong>\u2018&#8230;Next\nCriminal Assizes.\u2019 <\/strong>This is what committal Magistrates often say to those\nthey have committed for Jury trial. Even so, accused persons on bail are placed\non Recognizance to be present at the Assizes, be it, \u2018&#8230; (i) &#8230;January: (ii)\n&#8230;May; and September.\u2019 <\/p><div id=\"antig-3193049399\" class=\"antig-content_3 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.antiguabarbudaculinarymonth.com\/\" aria-label=\"CM key_WEB 1300x300_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1301\/h:301\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/CM-key_WEB-1300x300_1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1301\/h:301\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/CM-key_WEB-1300x300_1.jpg 1301w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:69\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/CM-key_WEB-1300x300_1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:237\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/CM-key_WEB-1300x300_1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:178\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/CM-key_WEB-1300x300_1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1301\" height=\"301\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>GROPING FOR EVIDENCE<\/strong><\/p><div id=\"antig-860628020\" class=\"antig-content_6 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/discoverflow.co\/web\/antigua\" aria-label=\"ANU CVP Digital Broadband 1200x400_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:342\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1201\" height=\"401\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike\nthe glib-talking con-artists who must interface with potential victims, cyber\ncriminals, though not physically present, are never too far away from banking\ninstitutions, their \u2018ATMs\u2019 and the deposits of customers. Firsthand scrutiny of\nretrieved documentary evidence, suggested that the defrauded sum was almost\nimmediately dispatched to a \u2018&#8230;named third party on the Continent of Africa.\nLikened to the unimaginable feat achieved by the <strong>\u2018&#8230;Island Girls,\u2019<\/strong> who courageously rowed on stormy seas across the\nAtlantic Ocean to the Caribbean, in the world of banking cyber criminals have\nbeen perpetrating unimaginablefraudulentacts; accessing and taking over bank\naccounts, and in some instances had left depositors weeping; &#8230;financial\ninstitutions in restitution misery and law enforcement and prosecutors <strong>\u2018&#8230;Groping for Evidence.\u2019 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>PROSECUTORIAL\nPREDICAMENT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though\nthe two female accused are not the only ones facing \u2018&#8230;Prosecutorial\nPredicament,\u2019 in the rather unique case, they have not only been <strong>\u2018&#8230;crying out for justice,\u2019<\/strong> but have\nalso sought to exert pressure in being brought to justice as soon as reasonably\npracticable. There are many other accused persons- some on bail and some in\njail. Among them are the \u2018&#8230;have and have not; &#8230;the meek and lowly, as well\nas the high-profile that may have been seen as the victims of circumstance. The\nConstitution provides for a <strong>\u2018&#8230;reasonable\ntime for those charged with criminal offences to be tried\u2019<\/strong> [Section 5 (6)].\nInvariably, the volume of work, human resource; infrastructural problems and\nother operational factors, often militated against prosecutorial expedition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>PRESUMPTION OF\nINNOCENCE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In\nthe instant case, investigators seemingly driven by exuberance, may have\nunsuspectingly created for the two female accused and their families a dire\nsituation that speaks to all kinds of adversities, pronounced by \u2018&#8230;three\nyears in financial ruin; &#8230;hardship and painful anxieties.\u2019 While there will\nbe views that may seem contentious, it is important to speak to the prevailing\nconstitutional right that allows for the <strong>\u2018&#8230;Presumption\nof Innocence.\u2019 <\/strong>Unlike situations in which people had often found\nthemselves, there have been those that may have found themselves in more\nawkward situations. Some had been placed under intense public scrutiny with\nhovering dark clouds of suspicion. Fortuitously, some continue to enjoy the\nnovelty of public life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>EVIDENCE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;Except for a plea of guilty where procedurally,\nfull trial is suspended, such presumption is maintained during trial in which\nthe evidence adduced shall conclusively prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.\nThis is obtained in most democratic societies [CO: 1981: Section 15 (2)]. As\npresent holder of the office of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Anthony\nArmstrong would respond to cases that appeared starved of evidence and showed\nno reasonable prospect of conviction, he would quietly say to police\ninvestigators <strong>\u2018&#8230;There is not even an\niota of evidence.\u2019 <\/strong>Fromprofessional\ntraining; practical investigative and prosecutorial experience, when one speaks\nto evidence, he speaks to<strong> (i) &#8230;That\nwhich makes a fact evident; (ii) &#8230;That which supplies proof; (ii)&#8230;The means\nby which a fact may be proved or disproved\u2019 [Laws of Evidence]. <\/strong>The instant\ncase appears woefully starved of that which should represent facts or lends\nsupport to the fact in issue.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>INTERNET BANKING<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As\ntechnological advancement has been made, not only has this impacted business\ntransactions, but has also forced many into adaptations. Even as, it provides\nfor convenience, some uses are fraught with problems. Among the uses has been \u2018<strong>Internet Banking.\u2019<\/strong> This innovative, but\ntechnological service has brought business and banking transactions into the\nhomes and offices of users with lightening speed. As people seek to conduct\nlegitimate banking transactions, others in the cyber world, have been devising\nmethods to relieve them of bank balances. While customers toiled to make\ndeposit, the sophisticated or technologically-savvy hackers simply click to\nwithdraw significant sums of money from their savings or business account. For\nthese reasons, customers shall assist banking institutions to worry less about\ncyber criminals. This may be done through the avoidance of dangerous messages\nprompting \u2018&#8230;<strong>verification on banking\ncredentials.\u2019<\/strong>&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>GLOBAL PHENOMENON<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>None\nmay deny that this is the age of information and technology. None may also deny\nthat technology has not only allows for social networking and sending messages\nto families and contacts, but also made business transactions easy and\nconvenient. For such convenience, an innovative technological service called \u2018&#8230;Internet\nor Online Banking\u2019 has now been seen as a <strong>\u2018&#8230;Global\nPhenomenon.\u2019<\/strong> This service allows for inter alia; \u2018&#8230;Money transfers;\n&#8230;Payment of bills; &#8230;Loans or Overdrafts; &#8230;Re-ordering Checques; &#8230;Making\nonline purchases; &#8230;Re-imbursing friends with funds or simply making\nreservations. These can be easily performed from \u2018&#8230;homes on desktops or\nanywhere on laptops and mobile phones&#8217; [Wikipedia].However, likened to the careless use of fire, costs and consequences\noften come to those that would have been unmindful of the constantly lurking\ntechnological dangers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>SEQUENCE OF EVENTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A\nsiphoned-off sum of money (XCD$28,000) duly accredited to a Vincentian\nnational, then a <strong>\u2018&#8230;level 3 student at\nthe Mona Campus in Jamaica\u2019<\/strong> [October 20, 2015], reportedly disappeared from\nher \u2018&#8230;St. Vincent and the Grenadines account.\u2019 Breaching whatever security\nmeasures that may have been in place, even banking officials and\/or monitors\nappeared to have been fooled by the adeptness of cyber criminals using highly technological\nsophistication. Adding insult to their intelligence, the siphoned funds were\nthen transferred to a legitimate know Account in another \u2018OECS\u2019 country in the\nLeeward Islands, through the victimized bank. The legitimate account holder\nreportedly withdrew the suspect-funds from his\/her account and dispatched to\nthird parties through a money transfer entity in Antigua and Barbuda. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CYBER SCAM &#8211; CYBER\nCRIME<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nexperts have determined that invariably, <strong>\u2018Phishers\u2019\n<\/strong>(technological term) had used social networking for recruitment purposes.\nFace Book contacts often provide the platform in seeking pertinent information\non potential recruits by third parties already in the scamming operations. Through\nthis medium, many unsuspecting participants had been recruited, influenced and\ninduced with incentivized commissions for their willing participation. For\nclarity of understanding a <strong>\u2018&#8230;Cyber\nScam\u2019<\/strong> is also a <strong>\u2018&#8230;Cyber Crime.\u2019<\/strong>\nSuch activity includes monies reportedly siphoned off business or savings\naccounts. The proceeds are then sent to those so induced by a commission either\nto a banking institution of the same branch and then filtered through money\ntransfer agencies. After a clearing house process, recipients then received and\ndispatch through the same agency to \u2018&#8230;physically unknown recipients in a\nforeign country.\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>PROSECUTORIAL\nJURISDICTION <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When Face Book Messages offered \u2018<strong>&#8230;Money-Making Opportunities\u2019<\/strong> to\npotential agents\/facilitators for the transfer of varying sums of money, it\nappeared that candidates may have been na\u00efve in assuming that such activity had\nlegitimacy. Further, since the recipients were identified with \u2018<strong>&#8230;African Christian names and Western\nSurnames<\/strong>,\u2019 this may have been sufficient to raise reasonable suspicion of\nan international scam. Interestingly, in spite of evidence that \u2018<strong>&#8230;two female facilitators in another\nState\u2019 <\/strong>speaks to their involvement as being recipients of funds through \u2018&#8230;two\nnon-banking money transfer agencies,\u2019 they have been formally charged with <strong>\u201c&#8230;Larceny and Receiving and Conspiracy to\nDefraud\u2019 a bank in another regional State, <\/strong>distant from the State in which a\ncustomer\u2019s savings account bank was reportedly victimized. Attorneys familiar\nwith these developments have contended that such course of action not only defies\nlogic, but also begs for \u2018<strong>&#8230;Prosecutorial\nJurisdiction.\u2019<\/strong> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>GROSS OPERATIONAL\nNEGLIGENCE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nfrequency of withdrawals from a single account<strong> (11) <\/strong>over a seventy-two hour period, made the transactions capable\nof being described as brazen and alarming. When the unauthorized transactions\nwere over, a customer at a banking institution in St. Vincent and the\nGrenadines had been victimized of almost \u2018<strong>&#8230;XCD$28,\n000.<\/strong> Consequent upon this development, it might reasonably be concluded\nthat regional banking institutions have also been experiencing bourgeoning\nfinancial losses. Apart from other possible contributing factors, customers may\nfind it painfully difficult not to attribute these withdrawals to\nmonitoring-deficiency. Financial investigators may attribute these transactions\nto \u2018<strong>&#8230;Gross Operational Negligence.\u2019<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>FRAUD CAPITAL<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nallegations against the two female accused of having been involved the <strong>\u2018&#8230;hacking of a Savings Account\u2019 at a\nbanking institution on Halifax Street, Kingstown, St. Vincent and the\nGrenadines,\u2019<\/strong> was not only farfetched, but most ridiculous. It begs the\nquestion \u2018&#8230;Why the victimized bank did not seek the intervention of the Criminal Investigations\nDepartment (CID), headquartered in that jurisdiction?\u2019&nbsp; Law enforcement agencies know that the <strong>\u2018&#8230;Fraud Capital\u2019<\/strong> of the universe is\nlocated on the African Continent. In the instant case, the masterminds were\nreasonably suspected to have operated, either within the Caribbean region or\nfrom <strong>Continental Africa. <\/strong>An\ninvestigative theory suggested that in order to make untraceable the proceeds\nof the crime, such proceeds may have been repatriated back to masterminds\nthrough money transfer systems on that continent or some other foreign\nlocations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ADMINISTRATION<\/strong><strong>\nOF JUSTICE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As\nit has been for many accused persons, so it has been for these two\njointly-charged accused females. Over three years later, a trial date appeared\nto have eluded the two accused. Harbor no illusions. Framers of the\nConstitution anticipated that delayed trials will occur. Consequently, accused\npersons, most likely, would frown or express personal views over the lengthy\ndelays and their frustration and disappointment over the slow pace in the <strong>\u2018&#8230;Administration of Justice.\u2019<\/strong> This\nconcept speaks to that which appears fair, right and just. It cannot be fair,\nand neither can it be said to be right and just for criminal charges to be\ndangling over the heads of those that have been \u2018&#8230;pleading to be tried in\nopen Court.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>BASTION OF HOPE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anticipating\nthat people may have legitimate or justifiable reasons to cry out, one of the\nfounding constitutional principles speak to \u2018&#8230;recognition of law as the\nsymbol of public conscience.\u2019 Then the Judiciary that has pride itself as the <strong>\u2018&#8230;Bastion of Hope,\u2019<\/strong> appeared to have\ndriven many people in to a wretched state of hopelessness. Now with witnesses\nscattered across the region \u2018&#8230;St. Vincent and the Grenadines; &#8230;St.\nKitts\/Nevis; and \u2018&#8230;Jamaica,\u2019 all tendering evidence of mere formality, one\ncan professionally say there is not even an iota of evidence, necessary to\nengage the attention of a Jury. This, however, is the calling of, and shall be\nleft to the consideration of the \u2018&#8230;Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>LYING EXCUSES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Invariably,\nan unscrupulous officer of the Court emerges, presenting himself as a paragon\nof legal virtue. Then disguisedly he used his intellect and criminal exploits,\nnot only in frustrating the innocent and unsuspecting accused, but also in\nfrustrating the criminal justice system. For many accused persons, their\ntroubles may be linked to the behavioral attitude of that small minority. Such\nmight easily be discerned from the lyrical content of a social commentary by\nrenowned social commentator Slinger Francisco, \u2018Mighty Sparrow.\u2019 In his <strong>\u2018&#8230;Lying Excuse,\u2019 <\/strong>commentary,he offered as many as he could, then\nsaid <strong>\u2018&#8230;That is all; &#8230;That is all\u2019<\/strong>\n[Song Lying Excuses: You Tube]. Though facing adversities and uncertainties,\nfor the two female accused, such excuses are really not all. Jointly charged\nwith two cyber crimes, while awaiting a date for trial, certain attorneys were\nsaid to have been \u2018&#8230;running riot\u2019 with legal advice and suggestions in\novercoming obstacles or hurdles in the way of prosecution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For\nthe <strong>\u2018&#8230;Avoidance of Doubt,\u2019<\/strong>\ninsinuation and\/or negative aspersion, it should be understood that the\nprosecutorial role of the \u2018DPP\u2019 is primarily one that represents the public\ninterest. Thus, the power to prosecute or not to prosecute resides only in the\nholder of such office. Such powers are constitutionally devolved on the person\nso appointed. Such person has the sole prerogative in exercising or making\ndeterminations as to which case or cases may engage the attention of a Jury. It\nshall also be understood, that such person is not subject to the directions or\ncontrol of any person or authority. The constitutional provision states, <strong>\u2018&#8230;The powers conferred on the Director of\nPublic Prosecutions are vested in him to the exclusion of any other person or\nauthority\u2019 [CO: 1981: Section 88].<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>PROSECUTORIAL\nINTEGRITY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\nhave been two distinct characteristics about those holding the office of\nDirector of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Those with certain knowledge not only\nspeak to their professionalism, but also to their <strong>\u2018&#8230;Prosecutorial Integrity.<\/strong>\u2019 Therefore, none may attempt to invite\nanimosity and rebuff, one should know that they encourage no conduct that has\npotential for inter alia, (a) \u2018&#8230;affecting public confidence; (b) &#8230;strained\nrelations; (c) &#8230;harmful to the Code of ethics; (d) &#8230;his reputation or (e) &#8230;likely\nto bring his office into disrepute.\u2019 Thus, when accused persons are reportedly \u2018&#8230;advised\nto advance specific sums of money,\u2019 either to have trials fast-forward or\ndiscontinue, if it sounds fishy, then consult a fisherman. If a precursor was\nnot mentioned, then accused persons may accept a prosecutorial delay as a\nmatter beyond the control of the office of the \u2018DPP.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>IMPLORING THE\nCITIZENS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Framers\nof the Constitution implore citizens to demonstrate a commitment to \u2018&#8230;an\nundivided allegiance\u2019 to the law and \u2018&#8230;not to be limited by any private views\nof justice or expediency\u2019 [CO: 1981: Principle D]. Only the na\u00efve, the\nsimpleton and the gullible would believe that when \u2018&#8230;Justice is delayed, it\nis not denied,\u2019 and that those affected will not express abhorrence of a\ncriminal justice system or a Judiciary in which only the affluent,\n\u2018&#8230;fugitives from justice\u2019 or otherwise, could manipulate these institutions\nto good advantage. Likened to Prime Minister Gaston Browne, no single entity\nshall have a \u2018&#8230;monopoly\u2019 on essentials that power the nation\u2019s progress or\ndevelopment [Antigua News Room: February 10, 2019]. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CYBER CRIMINALS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nproliferated use of technology, no doubt, has seen as many fraudsters and scammers,\nequally as much as there are cyber criminals. Those in hacking mode have been\nunrelentingly in targeting unsuspecting victims with messages that demand responses.\nEqually as much as non-cyber criminals have used conventional ways in\nperpetrating criminal acts against the hapless in society, \u2018<strong>Cyber Criminals\u2019<\/strong> have been wreaking\nhavoc against those transacting online business transactions. Stealthily and\nwith fox-like cunningness, many have employed their wit in religiously <strong>\u201c&#8230;Phishing\u201d <\/strong>for targets. Computer\nexperts have ascribed this name with explanations, that means \u2018<strong>&#8230;Identity Theft.\u2019 <\/strong>This is reportedly\nachieved through accessing of personal information, including bank credentials.\nSuch data was said to have been fraudulently used by those impersonating the\ntrue owners. For instance, data is unknowingly obtained when \u2018<strong>&#8230;unexpected messages\u2019<\/strong> appear in\ninboxes. Likened to that which reportedly \u2018&#8230;kills cats,\u2019 an inquisitive click\nand unsuspecting responses to prompts could see unauthorized transactional\nactivities on sizeable bank balances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>OPERATIONAL VIGILANCE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\nis therefore, incumbent on banking institutions that in their attempt to reduce\nfinancial losses, vigilance at ATMS shall be increased. Though not necessarily\nthrough cyberspace where \u2018&#8230;Phishers and cyber criminals\u2019 constantly surf,\ncustomers may wish to consider greater scrutiny of accounts for suspicious\ntransactional activities.&nbsp; It has been\nthe experience that with relative ease, large sums have been deposited at\nbanking institutions. Conversely, with relative ease andspeed,\u2019 banking institutions have been defrauded of appreciable\nlarge sums of depositor\u2019s money. Since in cyber space criminals are constantly\nphishing, nothing shall be presumed as impossible or beyond their reach<strong>. <\/strong>Thus<strong>,<\/strong> banking institutions shall know that increased <strong>\u2018&#8230;Operational Vigilance\u2019<\/strong> is a\nprerequisite for protection against cyber attacks and significant financial\nlosses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>DISTURBING\nPHENOMENON&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Those\nthat would have availed themselves of internet banking services know that itnot only allows for bank accounts to\nbe accessed and managed, but also accessible to sophisticated international\ncyber criminals. These criminals continue to<strong> \u2018relish and flourish\u2019 <\/strong>in this service<strong>.<\/strong> In spite of counter-measures to protect customers and banking\ninstitutions, a rapidly growing population of cyber criminals has made their\nactivities a <strong>\u2018&#8230;Disturbing Phenomenon.\u2019<\/strong>\nThey have, and continue to reduce bank balances by sheer sophistication and\nsimple clicks on the buttons of computers and cellular phones. In some\nrespects, users of such services may have shown disregard to secure banking\nadvice and\/or practice, thereby exposing their accounts to the inevitable. Even\nwith such risks or setbacks, it has not only eliminated visitations to banking\ninstitutions, but also inordinate delays in lengthy queues. While such services\neliminate physical contact with or interfacing with tellers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>SKILLFUL HACKING<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Apart\nfrom opening and unwittingly responding to <strong>e-mails\nor making telephone calls, <\/strong>research has shown that with \u2018&#8230;<strong>Phished<\/strong> data and skillful hacking,\nlittle difficulty is encountered by international hackers in accessing\nlegitimate bank balances. Likened to con artists, developing particular skills,\ninternational fraudsters and cyber criminals are known to have used their expertise\nin visiting or hacking into targeted computer systems, irrespective of\nlocations. While businesses and banking institutions have been fighting in\nfutility to stave cyber-hackers, customers shall assist in protecting, not only\ntheir balances, but also their data and banking credentials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>UNIMAGINABLE\nCONSEQUENCES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Those on social media, responding\nto messages and\/or accepting offers of online job, they shall know that some\nresponses may bring unexpected difficulties and <strong>\u2018&#8230;Unimaginable Consequences.\u2019 <\/strong>Likened to different \u2018&#8230;mode of\noperation\u2019 (MO) in Trinidad and Tobago [ANR: February 12, 2019], bank accounts\neverywhere are being dramatically reduced through unauthorized transactions at\n\u2018<strong>&#8230;ATMs,\u2019 <\/strong>as had been several case\nwithin this jurisdiction and the instant case involving a banking institution\nin St. Vincent and the Grenadines. A \u2018&#8230;BBC Scam Alert,\u2019 informs that \u2018&#8230;The\nreality is scammers are based in every country.\u2019 Known for his fraudulent\nexploits, a 40 year-old fraudster called <strong>\u2018&#8230;Mike\nor Nigerian Prince,\u2019<\/strong> was said to have been the mastermind behind the\noperations of a \u2018&#8230;multinational network.\u2019 This wassaid to have a net worth of some \u2018<strong>&#8230;\u00a360 Million\u2019 [BBC: August 1, 2016]. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CONCLUSION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For over three years awaiting\ntrial, the rallying cry of the two female accused, as has been the same for\nmany other accused persons has been\u2018&#8230;Justice delayed is justice denied.\u2019 Even\nso, in their moments of anguish and anxieties, they desire nothing more from\nthe prosecuting authority, than taking appropriate action in bringing them\nbefore the Criminal Assizes where their innocence or guilt shall be determined,\nor where it appears \u2018&#8230;there is no reasonable prospect of conviction,\u2019 to\nbring closure to the proceedings and thus end their anxieties and frustration. Their\nexperiences may have valuable lessons for others. This is so, particularly,\nwhen it involves money transfer across frontiers to persons who may only exist\nby names and are not traceable. They shall know that opportunities that often\nseemed too good to resist or neglect, are often poised to bring woe to the\nunsuspecting. As much as an inducement might be overwhelming <strong>\u2018&#8230;funds that beg for sources and\nfinancial transactions that are starved for legitimacy,\u2019<\/strong> likened to some\nhuman relationships, they shall avoid entanglement. &nbsp;Thus, incentivized opportunities to receive\nand send monies to unacquainted or unfamiliar persons shall be declined. These are\nof no concerns to the two female accused that are currently facing triple jeopardy\nof<strong> (i) &#8230;Job interdiction; and (ii)\n&#8230;Criminal prosecution; and (iii) &#8230;a life of continuing financial hardship.\u2019\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"antig-656183542\" class=\"antig-in-comments_2 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/@hadeedmotorsltd\" aria-label=\"Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1000\/h:250\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1000\/h:250\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png 1000w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:75\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:192\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1000\" height=\"250\"   \/><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Rawlston Pompey Likened to Anthony \u2018Thug Life\u2019 Govia, wanted for a spectacular daylight robbery and the gun-slinging Calvin \u2018Burger\u2019 James, in brazen gunman-style, intending to eliminate a sibling, but managed to reduce members of his family by one and the female population by two [October 5, 2018], both had been on the run from [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":11704,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-columns"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.1 (Yoast SEO v24.1) - 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