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News from the Caribbean as of
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Firearms charges against BVI businessman adjourned
Friday, September 15, 2006
ROAD TOWN, BVI: The case against prominent British Virgin Islands businessman Ashley Ritter, who is facing unlawful gun and ammunition charges has been adjourned.
Ritter was arrested by police last week after a search was carried out at his home at Cox Heath and a gun and ammunition were discovered.
The search by the police was in connection with investigations being carried out into the Brewers Bay Beach Facility Project.
This government project was undertaken in 2004 and Ritter, who is the Managing Director of Sandwise Limited, signed a Petty Contract with government in January 2004 in relation with this project.
At the time when Ritter’s house was searched, former government Minister Alvin Christopher’s house was also searched.
Christopher was the Minister of Natural Resources in the current government when the project was undertaken. He was however not arrested.
The Attorney General’s office is carrying out an investigation into this project on the request of Governor David Pearey.
Governor Pearey was asked by the Public Accounts Committee, which has opposition leader Ralph O’Neal as its chairman, to carry out a commission of inquiry based on a report from the Internal Audit Unit that government wasted money in the project and it borders fraud.
Ritter is charged with having in his possession a 9mm Ruger handgun without a license, he is also charged with unlawful possession of 5 rounds of 9mm explosives without a valid permit and unlawful possession of three rounds of 20 gauge explosives without a valid permit.
When the matter came up in court Wednesday, Tania Richards of the Attorney General’s Chambers told Magistrate Carl Dawson that the person handling the case – the Director of Public Prosecutions Terrence Williams -- is off island and requested the matter adjourned to another date.
The matter was therefore adjourned to Friday October 6.
The court also granted bail to Ritter on the request of his lawyer Hayden Douglas in the sum of $5,000 with one surety.
Ritter had previously been granted bail by the police.
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