(Trinidad Express) Thirty-three people yesterday appeared before a Tunapuna Magistrate charged with various levels of involvement in a “vice party” held over the Father’s Day weekend.
Anthony Smith yesterday pleaded guilty to planning the “vice party” and was sentenced to three month’s hard labour by Magistrate Gail Gonzales.
The Tunapuna First Magistrate’s Court yesterday heard that Smith had organised a “vice party” and advertised the event using BlackBerry Messenger.
Hired “dancers” were outfitted in black and white uniforms and scattered throughout the party. The event was held in a rented house in El Dorado and tickets were sold for TT$200.
Around 4 a.m. officers of the Northern Division Task Force stormed the party and saw naked women “gyrating” on men.
Sgt Mark Maharaj led a team from the Northern Division Task Force, including constables Kevorne Joseph and Dexter Edwards to a house located on Sealey Street in El Dorado.
Sixteen females were charged with “lewd and suggestive dancing”. Ten of the females, including two minors, pleaded guilty to the charges. Jamila Francis received the lowest fine after she told Gonzales she had two children to take care of and decided to dance at the party to make money.
Gonzales commended Francis for her honesty. Francis was fined TT$300 while the other nine women who pleaded guilty were all fined TT$400.
Jinai Johnson, who pleaded not guilty, said she went to the party with her husband while Nikeisha Rougier said she was a patron in the party and not one of the dancers.
Johnson, Rougier, Asha Anderson, Aleisha Job and Addie Williams pleaded not guilty and were placed on TT$5,000 bail.
Sparkle Smith, the wife of the planner of the “vice party”, also pleaded not guilty and was granted TT$10,000 bail. They are to return to court on July 16. Seventeen men were charged with aiding and abetting in the “lewd and suggestive” dancing performed by the women.
Three of the men pleaded guilty, including Smith, the planner of the “vice party”.
Smith’s father, Trevor, also pleaded guilty and was fined TT$400. Jervon Lindsay was the only other person to enter a guilty plea. He too was fined TT$400.
The 14 other men pleaded not guilty including the disc jockey hired for the “vice party”, Derwin Mc Erwin. All 14 men were placed on TT$10,000 bail. They are to return to court on July 16. Smith was also charged with selling alcohol without a liquor licence.
Four cases of beer, two bottles of Black and White scotch, a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black scotch, a bottle of Hennessy and a bottle of Absolut Vodka were yesterday presented to the court as evidence.
Smith pleaded not guilty and was granted TT$10,000 bail.
