WhatsApp conversations appear to show that Tambu Frett of Little Dix Hill in East End, Tortola, may not be as generous as he is professing to be as in the case of Bryan D. Bolan, by giving free rides from the US Virgin Islands (USVI) to the Virgin Islands (British). Photo: Internet Source/File

Tambu Frett was charged with and pleaded guilty to Smuggling, Illegal Entry and Breach of Curfew. He was intercepted by police on April 3, 2020, while attempting to smuggle a man into the Territory when the borders were closed and a curfew in place. Photo: Facebook/File

After hours of hearing evidence from a United Kingdom expert in communication analysis and a member of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, the court matter was adjourned to May 20, 2020, for continuation, when Frett is slated to take the witness stand.

The UK native's name is being withheld in compliance with a court order.

Frett was charged with and pleaded guilty to Smuggling, Illegal Entry and Breach of Curfew. He was intercepted by police attempting to smuggle Mr Bolan into the Territory when the borders were closed and a curfew in place.

Bolan already pleaded guilty to charges of Breach of Curfew and Illegal Entry and was sentenced.

WhatsApp convos.

During the Newton hearing, the UK expert said he pulled 30 WhatsApp conversations pertinent to the case, where Frett, along with other men, held talks to smuggle persons into the Territory.

One such conversation was with Jerome Hopkins Jr, who owned the boat that Frett used to smuggle in Mr Bolan.

Notably, Hopkins’s lawyer Valerie Stephens-Gordon said there was nothing to indicate that her client had knowledge of what his boat was being used for when Frett loaned it in a previous court appearance and they would be objecting to the boat's forfeiture by the state.

Voice notes; however, between Frett and Hopkins painted a different story.

In the voice notes, the court heard Frett inquiring from Hopkins if they were working for that particular day.

Hopkins replied: “Looks like four.”

Meanwhile, a man referred to as Brice Todman from St Thomas was also in conversations with Frett.

Todman said there were two women who were interested in Frett’s services, one he referred to as a Spanish girl and a Yankee woman.

He said: “I go give she your number and let she call you,” he said, pointing to the Yankee woman who appeared to be willing to travel.

He added, however, “she gotta make sure the money right.”

To which Frett replied, “Okay. Collect the money you have to collect.”

Defence

Meanwhile, in an attempt to defend his client, Attorney E. Leroy Jones cross-examined the DPP’s witness on whether his client ever spoke of a money exchange between himself and Bolan as per the phone records.

The witness admitted that there was no reference made to it. He said nonetheless that there were references to money made in other conversations and, according to his research, illegal runs from the USVI would cost between $800 to $1,000.

Jones was attempting to keep the arguments solely on April 3, 2020, when his client was caught by the authorities.

Senior Prosecutor ONeil Simpson represented the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions in this matter. 

Acting DPP Tiffany R. Scatliffe-Esprit initially represented the Crown.