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Jasmine Hartin, Detained 24 Hours Then Freed
posted (June 7, 2023)
Tonight, Jasmine Hartin has been freed from the Corozal police station after almost 24 hours on lockdown for allegations that in the Commissioner's own words had "insufficient evidence" to back them up.

That detention came after Hartin's attempt yesterday to leave the country before the final processing of her court-ordered $75,000.00 fine.

It landed her in a world of confusion between the police and immigration departments with her attorneys claiming that neither would acknowledge that they were the party that had detained her.

Hartin's release tonight is one that Cherisse Halsall spent the day waiting for at the Corozal police station. Here's a look at the activity that took place today around what many have described as an illegal detention.

STANDUP
I'm standing outside of the Corozal police station where Jasmine Hartin has been detained on either. An immigration offence or the intention to have absconded before paying her court-ordered $75,000.00 BZD fine.

At this hour she has, on paper, been cleared of those allegations, still she remains here until the police department can determine that she is free to go.

But this afternoon her Attorney OJ Elrington made it clear that her detention was based on nothing at all.

OJ Elrington, Attorney-At -Law
"Illegally detained let me make that absolutely clear. It has been almost 24 hours since my client has been detained and from since that moment we have been trying both myself and my entire office to try and ascertain the reason for her detention and they have not provided us with a reason as yet."

But at the hour the delay if not the reason was that the Commissioner was looking for a reason to charge.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"We are hoping that by the end of the day today we should determine definitively if she will be charged and what the charge is going to be."

But what would be the charge? We asked Attorney Elrington.

OJ Elrington, Attorney-At-Law
"None, none, none, none."

It's certainly not a fraudulent travel document. As the document in question was acknowledged by the Canadian consulate.

And whether or not Hartin had any intention to abscond, the fact of the matter is that her court ordered fine has, as of today, been paid in full.

So, was this release from her camp on Saturday a deliberate obfuscation?

One that allowed for the departure we saw her attempt yesterday. Attorney Elrington says no, it was just a delay on the part of the bank.

OJ Elrington, Attorney-At-Law
"No payment delay, there was no payment delay I think I can say really and truly. I can't say. I think that the courts facilitated the process but as anybody knows that the ugh banks receive payments it normally takes a few days to be processed. It was processed and the payment was made."

So, what actually took place in Corozal today.

Well at about 1:50pm Major Crimes arrived to interview Hartin.

She was also interviewed by a JP.

After that we expected authorities from immigration to show up bu they never did and when we reached out to the Minister of Immigration for comment, he told us quote: "I am informed that the fine was paid today. However, I understand that Ms Hartin may be charged by the police today. If that is so the court will set her conditions of bail. Immigration will be guided by any such court order if made."

So, was Jasmine Hartin mislead? According to her PR agent it was Justice Sandcroft who indicated that her travel restrictions had been removed.

And today We asked OJ Elrington if he had any knowledge that she was leaving the country?

OJ Elrington, Attorney-At-Law
"No I did not."

"Again, clients are not children of mine so they don't need to communicate with me that they are leaving the country or that they are doing anything. It would obviously be advisable under the situation but at the end of the day there was no obligation for her to tell me that she was leaving the country, or any other person for that fact."

"The travel restrictions well, the travel restrictions had been removed from the time she. Was sentenced, she had no travel restrictions except for the fact that the registrar and the courts would have had her passport. Now, a passport does not mean that you can't travel, the instructions are normally very clear that she cannot leave the country etc. etc. She did not have her passport and my understanding is that she got a temporary permit from the Canadian government because she had some emergency matters that she had to deal with."

So, Why was she traveling, running off so soon after sentencing and without confirmation that she had paid her fine?

OJ Elrington, Attorney-At -Law
"She had a matter that she says was of imperative importance and. Therefore why she thought it necessary to not wait on the passport because she felt as though she should not wait on the passport to be released, she knew it would be released eventually but she could not say with any level of certainty when it would be released and if it would allow her to meet the deadline for her personal activity that she needs to attend to."

Reports this evening are that Hartin is set to be released at any moment with the Commissioner sending out a statement saying quote:

"Having conducted the investigation, looking at the court order and the statements recorded, there in insufficient evident to prosecute Hartin for any offense. Especially since the entire fine has been paid. While there were some discrepancies with the declaration it was clear she was acting on the advise of her attorney who she had all reason to believe."

Hartin is still obligated to carry out 300 hours of community service at Belize City's YMCA and to appear in court for the Civil matter with the Jemmotts that today her attorney OJ Elrington described as still very live.

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