Accused scammer granted $450,000 bail
A St James man, who reportedly told police that times are hard and he has to “try a thing”, after identity information was discovered in his phone, was offered $450,000 bail when he appeared in the St James Parish Court last Wednesday.
The 25-year-old accused, Kenroy Ferguson, of Dumfries, St James, appeared before Judge Gary Reid for the possession of identity information belonging to several people.
According to court documents, on August 13, police officers armed with a search warrant went to a house in Dumfries, St James, where a man who opened the door identified himself as Kenroy Ferguson. Police said they noticed he was holding a Nokia phone and enquired whether it had discriminatory content. He then granted the officer permission to search the phone, which was found to contain several overseas phone numbers.
This was shown to Ferguson and when cautioned, he reportedly said, “Time hard enuh sah, so mi haffi try a thing”.
He was subsequently arrested and charged with possession of identity information. When cautioned again, he reportedly said, “Officer, a just little hustling”.
In his submission for bail, his attorney, Chumu Paris, stated that his client denied having the phone and that the numbers in the phone do not constitute an offence.
“The fact that calls were made to persons overseas in itself is not an offence,” said Paris. He added that his client denied having those numbers with any criminal intent.
The court clerk indicated that the Crown was not opposed to bail and the accused was offered bail in the amount of $450,000, with up to two sureties, on the condition that he reports to a specific police station on specific days.
The matter will be mentioned again on January 25, 2025.