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Sistah Joyce imprisoned!
Word reaching Virgin Islands News Online is that Searles was imprisoned on Friday April 12, 2013. It is not clear how much of the $40, 000 fine she was able to raise.
This news site was reliably informed that Searles has been imprisoned and according to the sentence could spend up to four and a half months for defaulting on payment.
‘Sistah Joyce’ was given a two-year sentence suspended for three years and $40,000 fine by the then Senior Magistrate Valerie Stephens on September 11, 2012 for possession of 452 grams of cannabis for the purpose of distribution.
The popular calypsonian had labelled the hefty fine as an injustice which had put a heavy burden on her and family. “$40, 000 with two months to pay it and two years suspension with three years probation and then she [Stephens] turn around and give a young man who get caught with more marijuana than me about two months after and he was fined $30, 000 with 6 months to pay it.”
“She making me feel like she feminist or she hate me or something and she don’t even know me, it was my first offence and while I am not condoning what I did because Marijuana is illegal, so the system say, I was still looking for fairness. Even though I took full responsibility, I felt like there was no fairness...She putting me in a real struggle to find $40, 000. There is now way in the system that they could justify that large fine. If someone could come forward and tell me what happen I would understand but right now I am still puzzled,” Sistah Joyce had told Virgin Islands News Online in December 2012.
The recently crowned calypso monarch of Virgin Gorda also said she had plans to do a song about the “unfairness” of the court system. It seems she will now have much time to contemplate on the words for that song while in prison, however, it may mean that she would be unavailable to perform it at the Calypso Competition on Tortola in July.
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63 Responses to “Sistah Joyce imprisoned!”
yet all the white collar crime eg stealing $40,000 goes unpunished...GOD will judge ayo
I am not condoning what she did as we have laws and every citizen is govern by them but come on man - two months to pay $40,000 especially when you don't have it. Well sah what a thing!
A lots of people in paying the court and them in lockin up them. De law too @$$. U all check de book and see how much people in paying. Not Sistah joyce a lone
It is not fair to blame the festival committee for her incarceration. However, if money is owed to her they should see it fir to pay her so she can meet her financial obligations. Legally what she did was wrong according to the law. Life moves on, those who break the law and cannot afford top legal representation find themselves in Jail. I assume if she was a big shot and had the cash we would not be reading or writing about this.
What does not kill you and break you down can only make you stronger. Stay strong my sister tomorrow will be a better day.
FM