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Man accused of sexually abusing mentally ill woman gets bail

By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A FORMER corrections officer was granted bail yesterday after he twice  allegedly sexually abused a mentally ill woman this summer.

Justice Gregory Hilton heard the bail application of Christopher Gomez, 24, who faces two charges of unlawful sexual intercourse with a person suffering from a mental disorder.

The defendant appeared while on remand at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. 

Gomez is accused of twice having unlawful sexual relations with a mentally ill woman in New Providence between July 23 and August 1.

Justice Hilton set the defendant’s bail at $9,500 with one or two sureties. Under the conditions of this bail, Gomez must sign in at the South Beach Police Station every Monday and Friday. He was warned not to contact the complainant or any witnesses.

His voluntary bill of indictment (VBI), which transfers his matter to a Supreme Court judge for trial, is set for service on February 29, 2024. 

A man accused of fatal shooting this October was also granted bail yesterday.

Justice Hilton heard the virtual bail application of Shaquille Smith, 27, for murder.

Smith and accomplices allegedly gunned down 44-year-old Dennis Basden as he tried to get to his Nissan Cube car on Tyler Street off Boyd Road on October 13. The culprits reportedly fled the scene in a Nissan Note.

At the time of his death, Basden was on bail, accused of killing Taraz Hanna in Wilson Tract on June 30, 2015.

Justice Hilton set Smith’s bail at $30,000 with two or three sureties.

Under the terms of this bail, Smith must sign in at the Central Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday by 6pm. He must also obey a 9pm to 6am daily curfew. 

His VBI will be served on January 25, 2024.

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