Men Charged With False Information Offences
[Updated] Two men appeared in Magistrates Court today [Aug 20] charged with alleged offenses which are understood to be in connection with the report of a rattlesnake.
Victor Bahia, 31, was charged with allegedly transmitting a false message contrary to section 66 of the Electronic Communications Act, and Alvaro Cro, 55, was charged with allegedly making a declaration to police which he knew to be false.
Both men elected to have their cases heard in Magistrates Court rather than Supreme Court, with a translator assisting them in court.
Mr Cro, who is from the Azores, was granted $5,000 bail with like surety and must report to Hamilton Police Station on Saturdays. Mr Bahia’s bail was set for $5,000 and two equal sureties. The Brazilian national was ordered to report to the Hamilton Police Station twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays. He was also required to surrender his passport.
Their next court appearance is scheduled for September 21.
In a statement earlier today, the Department of Public Prosecutions confirmed that a charge has been approved against Brazilian national Victor Bahia for allegedly “transmitting a false message contrary to section 66 of the Electronic Communications Act.”
A spokesperson said, ”The criminal proceedings against Victor Bahia concern the role alleged to have been played by him in the distribution of an image which ultimately came to be the subject of great national concern.
“The Department of Public Prosecutions acknowledges the thorough investigation carried out by the Bermuda Police Service towards identifying the appropriate person to be charged. The matter is now before the court, and all parties await judicial resolution of the charges.
“Members of the public are urged to be responsible when sharing information with each other, and the Department of Public Prosecutions remains committed to its mandate to provide Bermuda with an independent, efficient and effective prosecution service, and stands ready to prosecute allegations of mischievous misuse of electronic communications where it is in the public interest to do so.”
While the statement did not specifically state it was in regards to the report of the rattlesnake, it is understood that is what the charge relates to, and the official statement did reference the “distribution of an image which ultimately came to be the subject of great national concern.”
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