Derek Achong
An employee of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), accused of counselling alleged gang leader Ancil “Chemist” Villafana, has been again denied bail.
Akido “Sunday” Williams, 39, of Basilon Street, East Dry River, was initially denied bail when he appeared before acting Deputy Chief Magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, as police could not provide her with an up-to-date criminal record for him, to determine whether he fell under the provisions of the Bail Amendment Act.
When the case came up for hearing before her today, police prosecutor acting Cpl Irvin Joseph claimed that one of the robbery charges from 1998, which appeared to be pending in Williams’ criminal record, was in fact determined in his favour and dismissed.
Joseph claimed he had spoken with the retired police officer, who charged Williams in the other protracted case, and he claimed that Williams had been convicted and fined $300.
Joseph’s claims were strongly contested by Williams’ lawyer Darren Mitchell, who asked Antoine to stand down the hearing for five minutes for him to obtain information pertinent to the case.
When he returned, Mitchell claimed that he had spoken with the retired police officer, who contested the prosecutors’ claims and was willing to come to court to clarify.
After another short break, the retired officer, who was only identified as Insp Williams (no relation) appeared in court.
During his brief address to Antoine, Williams claimed that he was abroad when he received a call from a colleague, who told him that the case proceeded in his absence and concluded with a conviction. He also claimed that the court should not rely on the information allegedly provided to him as he could not confirm if it was credible.
Antoine then stood down the case for a little over an hour and a half before returning to deliver her ruling.
While Antoine upheld Mitchell’s claim over the criminal record, she still opted to deny Williams’ bail based on the seriousness of the offence, which carries a 25-year sentence upon conviction, and the possibility that he may flee the country to avoid being prosecuted.
Antoine also considered that Williams had pending charges for resisting arresting and blocking a roadway, which did not fall under the new bail legislation, when he is alleged to commit the gang offence.
Antoine advised Williams of his right to apply to a judge for bail and adjourned his case to November 14.
Williams is accused of providing instructions or guidance to Villafana in furtherance of his (Villafana) involvement in gang-related activity.
The offence is alleged to have occurred in November last year, in Beetham Gardens and at other unnamed locations. He was not called upon to plead to the charge, which was laid indictably.
On October 1, Villafana aka “Presi,” Kevon Isaiah Franklyn and Keedel Fabian Montrose were denied bail after appearing in court for providing support to a gang.
Villafana and Franklyn were also charged with being gang leaders.
The trio is expected to reappear before Busby-Earle-Caddle on November 29. —Derek Achong