A Haitian national who escaped from the Carmichael Road Detention Centre has been sentenced to six months in prison.
Jack Gerlin, 31, pleaded guilty to escape from lawful custody, while his mother, Rosita Gerlin, and sister, Junia Gerlin, admitted to harbouring a fugitive when they were arraigned before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain on Monday.
Meanwhile, Jamaican national Jevawn Cardoza and Bahamian Leroy Davis denied the harbouring charge and were remanded to prison until December 4.
Police and immigration officers found Gerlin hiding at an apartment in Pinewood Gardens on October 28.
His relatives lived downstairs and he ran upstairs when authorities arrived.
At the time of his escape on October 23, Gerlin was awaiting deportation after completing a prison sentence for assault with a deadly weapon.
Magistrate Swain made another deportation order once he has completed his sentence for escape.
Gerlin’s relatives, who are in the country legally, were each fined $500 or three months in prison.
They have until December 4 to pay the money.
Gerlin told the court that he had lost his documents in Hurricane Matthew.
However, immigration officials had no record of this.
According to Gerlin, he came to the country at age 12. On the other hand, his mother claimed he’d arrived by boat at age 9.
Magistrate Swain told Ms. Gerlin that she was a liar.