A Jamaican woman who failed to regularise her status when her six-month stay expired in 2021 was on Friday handed over to Immigration authorities after being reprimanded and discharged for a crime committed under the Computer Misuse Act.
Lenice Abigail Townsend, 29, who resided at 2nd Avenue Goodland, St Michael, first appeared before Magistrate Manila Renee on Thursday, charged with using a smartphone on June 26 to send a video which was menacing and which she intended to cause or was reckless as to whether it caused distress or anxiety to Samara Darby.
Townsend, represented by legal counsel Neville Reid, pleaded guilty to the charge in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court.
She was then offered $750 bail to reappear on Friday. Darby was also expected to appear.
Sergeant Kenmore Phillips revealed to the court that the complainant’s boyfriend had informed her that someone with the alias Maddy called him saying that she (Darby) was working voodoo on him.
Darby subsequently went on Tik Tok and saw Townsend on live video making the same comments. The matter was reported to the police.
Immigration officials were also in the court and informed the magistrate that Townsend arrived in the country in June 2021 and was granted six months. However, there was no evidence that she had attempted to regularise her status since.
During his mitigation, Reid said his client had informed him that her passport was lost and she had reported that to police. He urged the court to reprimand and discharge her on the charge.
Townsend also offered an apology to Darby who was in court: “Samara, I am very sorry about me going on Tik Tok and saying stuff to you about your relationship. I guarantee to you it won’t happen again. I pray you will find it in your heart to forgive me.”
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