A High Court judge yesterday granted bail in the sum of $100,000 to two of four people committed to stand trial for the 2004 kidnapping of Saada Singh. Kimberly Moonsammy, 27, of Vistabella and Keston Franklyn, 30, of Vessigny Village, La Brea, were successful in their bail applications before Justice Anthony Carmona in the San Fernando Second Criminal Assizes.
Two Fridays ago Franklyn, Moonsammy, her cousin, Jonathan, 26, of Vistabella and Colleen Osbourne, 27, of Pleasantville, were committed by Magistrate Rajendra Rambachan in the San Fernando Magistrates' Court to stand trial on the kidnapping charge. Before their committal they were out on $100,000 bail. But, Rambachan had refused them bail because of the seriousness of the offence.
However, yesterday Carmona citing certain cases, said according to the law they were entitled to bail. State attorney Maureceia Joseph did not object to bail, but asked that certain conditions which were attached to their previous bail continue. The judge ordered that the two report to the police station nearest to their homes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between the hours of 6 am and 10 pm.
Neither of them had a passport so no order was made for it to seized.
Moonsammy was represented by attorney Jason Jackson while Franklyn, who was not brought down from prison, was represented by attorney Keith Beckles. Carmona is expected to hear bail applications for the other two accused, Jonathan and Osbourne on Thursday. They are charged with kidnapping Singh for ransom. Singh was kidnapped from her school, Giselle Montessori on Archibald Street, Vistabella on June 3, 2004. Two days later she was found wandering along a lonely road in Siparia.