TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands Sep. 11, CMC – A Venezuelan man who was among a group involved in a high speed chase with police last month, was fined US$6,500 for illegal entry after pleading guilty in Court on Tuesday.
Magistrate Christilyn Benjamin who imposed the fine on Ricardo Martinez, ordered his immediate return to his home country once the penalty is paid and also took into account that this was his only known offence both here and abroad.
The judge noted the porous nature of the BVI’s borders and highlighted that Martinez’s case could be indicative of similar attempts by others.
Martinez was arrested and charged after being involved in a pursuit by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) on Sunday, August 25. He was injured during the chase and captured the following morning, while the other individuals involved managed to evade capture.
According to a press release, police officers were pursuing two vehicles suspected of suspicious activities and during the chase, one vehicle went over an embankment, leaving one male abandoned and injured—later identified as Martinez. An AK-47 assault rifle was recovered at the scene. Martinez was transported to Dr. D Orlando Hospital for treatment.
Martinez claimed that the recovered weapon did not belong to him but to the other escapees, whose identities he did not know due to their concealed faces.
He also stated he was a passenger, not the driver, during the pursuit. These factors were considered in the determination of his fine.
CMC/bv/kb/2024