T&T Soldier fined $20,000 for curfew violation
A Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force member has to pay $20,000 for breaching curfew hours or face two months in prison with hard labour.
After Arte Knutt was told to return home twice during curfew hours last Friday, police officers patrolling Moruga saw him a third time, in the company of a 17-year-old girl.
They were both arrested and subsequently charged for the offence of breach of curfew.
The following is a press release from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service on the incident.
“Arte Knutt, a Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force member, was convicted and fined $20,000, or in default two months’ with hard labour on Monday 19th July 2021.
Knutt, a soldier, pleaded guilty to the charge of breach of the curfew when he appeared virtually before Magistrate Margaret Alert at the Prince’s Town Second Magistrates’ Court.
The soldier of Indian Walk, Moruga, was given until 30th November 2021 to pay the fine.
Around 9:50 pm Friday 16 July 2021, Sgt Toussaint, Ag Cpl Teeluck, WPC Bobcombe and PC Ward were on mobile patrol duty along Rock River, Moruga, when they stopped a white Nissan Almera.
Arte Knutt was driving the vehicle. The soldier questioned his reason for being outside during the curfew hours, and he replied that he would pick up his cousin by the hairdresser.
The officers then instructed the soldier to return home.
The soldier was stopped again around 10.30 pm. He warned about being outside during the curfew hours and was instructed to return to his dwelling house.
However, around 11.23 pm, the officers observed the said Nissan Almera proceeding north along Moruga Road.
The vehicle then suddenly pulled into a yard and stopped.
The officers observed Arte Knutt in a yard with a 17-year-old girl seated in the vehicle's front passenger side.
The soldier and the girl were both arrested and subsequently charged for the offence of breach of curfew.
The girl appeared before the Juvenile Court on Monday 19th July, where she pleaded guilty to the charge.
The Court Social Services section then ordered to provide a pre-sentencing psycho-social report on her behalf on Wednesday 25th August 2021.”
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