Accused with kidney issues begs for bail

The attorney for a man facing fraud charges pleaded with a judge to give his client bail as he has kidney issues.

Davion Vassell submitted a bail application on humanitarian grounds to Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court last week, on behalf of Hosein Taylor. He is answering to charges of conspiracy to defraud, unauthorised access to computer data, unlawfully making device available for the commission of an offence, simple larceny, three counts of attempting to obtain money by means of forged documents, three counts of uttering forged documents, three counts of forgery, three counts of unauthorised access to computer data and three counts of conspiracy to defraud. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Taylor, a security guard, has been in custody since October 22.

However, investigating officers and the prosecutors are opposed to bail due to number of matters Taylor has before the courts. Video evidence was shown in court in which Taylor was identified committing an offence. From the medical journal, it is noted that Taylor is not suffering from any chronic illnesses. The custody officer also told the court that there are no medical facilities to ensure that Taylor receives adequate medical attention.

"Not to sound insensitive, but if there is a problem at one lock-up, it would mean that the defendant might have to be transferred outside of the local lock-up. It might mean that a defendant might have to go to [the name of the remand centre], where the facilities are better," Cole-Montague said. But the custody officer said that attempts were made to transfer Taylor to a remand centre last month, but he was refused admission due to a COVID-19 outbreak at the facility.

"Well maybe a letter needs to come from the clerk of courts, outlining all concerns. You see, and I'm speaking generally, not just in relation to this particular case, I am not of the view that because a defendant might necessarily have a medical condition, in the place of overwhelming evidence, in the place of serious allegations, that bail should just be offered like that," Cole-Montague stressed. She then made a directive for the prosecution to inform the superintendent at the correctional facility of the peculiar nature of Taylor's case.

Meanwhile, the prosecution told the court that they are seeking an adjournment in the matter as the case files are not yet complete. Taylor is to return to court on April 21 when his matters are to be mentioned.