Businessman granted $80K bail over rape, threat to kill charges

Local businessman Gabriel James has been given pre-trial liberty after being arrested and charged over the weekend with a number of indictable offences.

Bail was offered in the amount of $80,000 with one signed surety when he appeared before Magistrate Kadeen Palmer yesterday, January 23.

The 44-year-old was charged with four counts of rape as well as one count of Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm and one count of Threat To Kill.

It is alleged that the reported offences happened between November 2022 and January of this year. It is said that the alleged victim is a non-local who reportedly applied for and received a job at James’ establishment, Crystal’s Nightclub. BVI News understands that the two got into a relationship that soured over the last few weeks.

Our news centre understands that the authorities were only alerted of the reported incidents after the alleged victim reportedly broke down in the Department of Labour some time this month.

In the meantime, James was not required to enter a plea when he appeared before the court and was ordered by Magistrate Palmer to maintain a distance of at least 100 yards away from the complainant (the alleged victim).

He was also instructed not to interfere with any witnesses connected with the matter.

James was represented by defence attorney E Leroy Jones and is expected to re-appear before the court on March 29.