Belvedere man who made surety pay $10,000, sentenced to prison

A Belvedere man, who did not show up to court and made his surety cough up $10,000 in two weeks, was sentenced to 22 months in prison for illegal gun possession.

Akeem Boyea appeared at the Serious Offences Court before Senior Magistrate, Colin John on Monday, March 10, 2025 where he was sentenced to prison for 22 months for illegal gun possession, after failing to show up on previous occasions.

The facts are that on October 26, 2023 at about 12:20 a.m, Cpl 693 Williams and a party of men were on mobile patrol at Belvedere.

Upon reaching the vicinity of Kendol’s bar, Cpl Williams observed a male dressed in dark coloured clothes, including a hoodie jacket.

The police officer stopped the transport and disembarked. He approached the male whom he recognised as Akeem Boyea of Belvedere.

When Cpl Williams approached Boyea, he identified himself as a police officer dressed in plain clothes, and requested a search of Boyea, to which Boyea consented.

The officer found nothing on his person, but searched a black Lacoste one strap bag that Boyea had around his neck and found a black 9mm pistol.

Williams showed the pistol to Boyea and cautioned him in respect of the fire arm. Boyea said that the firearm was for his protection, and that it was a fake.

Cpl Williams pointed out the offence of unlawful possession of firearm, and arrested Boyea on suspicion, and he was taken to the Calliaqua Police station.

The weapon was taken to Sergeant of Police Caine, a weapons and ammunition specialist, who informed Cpl Williams that the weapon was in good working condition and capable of firing live 9mm ammunition. He then handed the weapon to the Corporal who contacted Pc 378 Hope at the Firearm and Registry office to ascertain if Boyea is the holder of a firearm license, and was informed that he was not.

Boyea was cautioned in the presence of a Justice of the Peace but declined to give a statement. He was asked to initial the item, but refused.

Cpl Williams charged Boyea for unlawful possession of a firearm.

Osnelle Bowens, who stood surety for Boyea, appeared at the Serious Offences Court before Senior Magistrate, Colin John on January 27, 2025 to give an account for Boyea’s absence. The court had earlier granted Boyea bail in the sum of $10,000 with one surety, and also imposed reporting conditions.

However, Boyea did not show up in court on multiple occasions when his matter was to be heard. Bowens told the court that the last information he received about Boyea was that he had fled to Grenada where he evaded police custody.

Senior Magistrate John had ordered Bowens to pay the EC$10,000 in two weeks. Failure to do so would have led to the court moving to sell his property to retrieve the money.