American Man wanted for Overstaying in TCI; Dodges TRIAL, Bench Warrant Issued
ROBERT PRATT of Turtle Tail Drive, Providenciales was responsible for ensuring that one WILLIAM BISHOP 49, an American citizen, who Immigration officials arrested for remaining in the islands beyond the
ROBERT PRATT of Turtle Tail Drive, Providenciales was responsible for ensuring that one WILLIAM BISHOP 49, an American citizen, who Immigration officials arrested for remaining in the islands beyond the permitted time or overstaying since 2020.
Pratt was summoned to appear in court this December, to show cause as to why William BISHOP had not attended court since September 26th and/or pay the amount for his failure to attend.
Immigration authorities charged the accused over stayer; took him before the court for the offense and he was granted bail until his trial.
Between 2020 and 2023, the matter kept being called but failed to proceed to trial.
Bishop had been attending court up until the matter was ready to be tried, however in September and he was a no show. It is then, when there were solid grounds, that the Hon Chief Magistrate issued a bench warrant for Bishop’s immediate apprehension if and when spotted.
Immigration authorities feared this would be the issue with William Bishop; that he would dodge court proceedings and was not in support of the American being granted bail and the case taking so long to be tried.
The offence is not even considered a serious one, if William BISHOP had attended court as he was expected to do and as he had agreed and was convicted, he would likely have NOT faced jail time. It was more likely the American would have been fined for his alleged crime of overstaying in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
