BVI News

Woman being jailed for disobeying summons, unpaid rent

A woman will spend two weeks at Her Majesty’s Prison for reportedly disobeying a compensation order and defying a subpoena to appear before the Magistrate’s Court.

Irene Smith, a former Hannah’s Estate resident who is employed at a well known electronic store in Road Town had previously been ordered to pay her former landlord some $1,055 in outstanding rent.

She had received the court order in May, which she was to comply with by the end of June. Now, more than more than three months later, she still has not paid, the court heard.

A summons for Smith to appear in court was subsequently drafted but she, reportedly, has been behaving elusively.

The court was told on Wednesday that the bailiff had visited her place of employment on more than one occasion to serve her the summons.

During one of those occasions, Smith was reportedly informed via telephone that someone inside her place of employment had come to see her, but, after learning that someone was an officer of the court, she refused to show up.

The court was further told that Smith was observed peeking at the court officer from a distance. It is said that, after visiting the woman’s place of employment in Road Town for a third time, the bailiff inconspicuously approached Smith and handed her the documents.

She refused to accept the summons. The officer verbally informed her that she was ordered to appear at the John’s Hole-based court. He then threw the documents at her feet.

After hearing the report, Magistrate Giselle Jackman-Lumy said: “I am satisfied that she was duly served.”

The magistrate then ordered that the absentee Smith spend some time in prison.

Smith’s order to pay still stands.

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8 Comments

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  1. Retired says:

    I assume the Magistrate issued an arrest warrant for this debtor so local police officers can arrest her in the near future.

    Like 9
    Dislike 1
  2. landlord says:

    I doubt the police will arrest her. Landlords get the most run around to collect their rent. I am happy to see the magistrate sending a message to those tenants who thinks it is ok to not pay rent after they have moved out.

    Like 14
    Dislike 2
    • 2 Cents says:

      @ Landlord

      Same way Tenant get the run around when it’s time for the landlord to fix a problem in their place and when it’s time to collect your deposit!

      Like 30
      Dislike 1
  3. Crazy says:

    Rent outstanding for 9 months and tenant refuse to move out.

  4. Hmmmm says:

    She is local thats why she is receiving that type of treatment.

  5. Concerned says:

    The landlords should be compelled to fix the problem in their apartments.Some land lords expect the tenants to pay for an apartment that is not fit. leaking roof causing damage to tenants properties.

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