Two men and two women were yesterday granted bail between $200,000 and $500,000 when they appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octive- Hamilton in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on charges involving trafficking in persons.
Candace Abigail Anderson, her son Stephon Fraser, Omefa Paul and Wesley Hart were not required to plead to the indictable charges of trafficking in persons and conspiracy to traffic in persons.
Fraser, Paul and Hart were each read separate charges in which it was alleged that they conspired with Anderson to engage in trafficking in persons either by transporting and/or harbouring numerous females by means of fraud for the purpose of exploitation.
Anderson faced two charges one for transporting and harbouring the girls and the other for recruiting them between April 15 – 20 at New Amsterdam.
Hart was charged with conspiring with Anderson to transport the females by means of fraud on April 15 at New Amsterdam.
Fraser was charged with conspiring with Anderson to transport and harbour the females at Itaballi between April 15 and 20.
Paul was also charged with conspiring with Anderson to harbour the females between April 15 and 20 at Itaballi.
Paul was represented by Attorney Shellon Alisha Boyce, while Fraser, Hart and Anderson were represented by Attorney Oneka Archer Caulder.
Both the attorneys put forward arguments for bail for their clients.
The prosecuting police officers did not object to bail for any of the accused but asked for substantial amounts.
Paul was granted bail in the sum of $250,000, while Anderson’s bail was set at $250,000 on each of her charges for a total of $500,000. The men were granted bail at $200,000 each and they are all scheduled to return to court on May 17.
