Human-trafficking accused again denied bail in St James Circuit Court
Published:Thursday | September 19, 2024 | 12:06 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Keron Watson, the man who allegedly used social media to lure a woman into committing sexual acts for money in 2017, was again denied bail when he appeared in the St James Circuit Court on Tuesday, despite pleas from his lawyer.
Presiding High Court Justice Bertram Morrison rejected the bail application from Watson’s lawyer Donovan Collins, on the grounds that Watson, who is charged with breaches of the Trafficking in Persons Act, failed to turn up for a previous trial date on January 10, 2023. Notably, Morrison had also rejected a previous bail application for Watson on January 22 for the same reason.
In making his bail application, Collins said:
“I have some very sad news to break, and on compassionate grounds, I am respectfully asking that the accused man be admitted to bail so that he may attend the funeral service of his late mother,” said Collins. “He was on bail before, he was complying with his bail conditions, but on one particular date he missed the date.”
“The police went to his home on that particular day where he was seen, and he was taken into custody, and that was how his bail was revoked. Based on my instructions, it was the same day he was supposed to be at court, that the police went there at his home,” continued Collins.
However, Morrison was not convinced of Collins’ argument, and as he did in the January application, it was refused.
“I am not able to assist you today, based on the antecedent issue. The accused is remanded in custody,” the judge said.
Watson’s trial had been scheduled for Tuesday when he appeared in court on January 22. It was, however, rescheduled to start on October 28 as the prosecution could not proceed with his case yesterday, having dealt with another trial matter earlier in the day.
THREATENED BLACKMAIL
According to the allegations, in January 2017, Watson conned the complainant, who was 18 years old at the time, into believing that he was a talent scout. He then invited her to his home under the claim that he would provide a modelling opportunity for her, following which he held her there against her will and had her perform various sexual acts with different men for fees, which he then pocketed.
After he released the complainant, Watson reportedly threatened to blackmail her with videos he had made of her in the various sexual acts. The matter was reported to the police and he was arrested in April 2017, following a raid at his home.
Watson was also charged with illegal possession of ammunition after a 9mm cartridge was seized during the same raid. He pleaded guilty to that charge, and on May 15, 2019 he was ordered by the St James Parish Court to pay a fine of J$30,000 or spend three months in prison.
Following Watson’s initial arrest, Senior Superintendent of Police Marlon Nesbeth, who headed the St James Police Division at the time, issued a warning to young people, especially girls and young women, not to fall prey to bogus ‘talent searchers’ who they meet online or in person.