By NICO SCAVELLA
Tribune Staff Reporter
nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A 54-year-old pilot from Grand Bahama was yesterday charged in Magistrates Court for alleged human trafficking and withholding the identification of his alleged victims more than two years ago.
Ricardo Sidney Laing, aka “Sam” and “Ricky”, appearing before Magistrate Samuel McKinney faced two counts of trafficking in persons. He is accused of trafficking Crystal Menns and Traviece Mundell into the Bahamas for the purpose of exploitation on an unspecified date before Thursday, January 10, 2013 and Monday, January 28, 2013. The Booty Drive, Freeport native also faced two counts of unlawful withholding of identification papers after he allegedly kept the alleged victims’ passports for some time. Laing was also charged with one count of conspiracy to engage in trafficking in persons.
Laing pleaded not guilty to the charges.
He was granted bail in the amount of $7,000 with one or two suretors, and was ordered by the magistrate to report to the Port Lucaya police station in Grand Bahama by 6pm every Wednesday.
The case was adjourned to June 2 for fixture hearing in Court Nine.
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