ARTE KNUTT, a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, was convicted and fined $20,000, or in default two months’ with hard labour on Monday 19th July, 2021.
KNUTT, a soldier, pleaded guilty to the charge of breach of the curfew when he appeared virtually before Magistrate Margaret Alert at the Princes Town Second Magistrates’ Court.
The soldier, of Indian Walk, Moruga, was given until 30th November 2021, to pay the fine.
Around 9:50 pm Friday 16 July, 2021 Sgt Toussaint, Ag Cpl Teeluck, WPC Bobcombe and PC Ward, were on mobile patrol duty along Rock River, Moruga, when they stopped a white Nissan Almera.
The vehicle was being driven by ARTE KNUTT. The soldier was questioned about his reason for being outside during the curfew hours and he replied that he was going to pick up his cousin by the hairdresser. The officers then instructed the soldier to return home.
The soldier was stopped again around 10.30 pm. He was warned about being outside during the curfew hours and instructed to return to his dwelling house.
However, around 11.23 pm the officers observed the said Nissan Almera proceeding north along the Moruga Road.
The vehicle then suddenly pulled into a yard and stopped.
The officers observed ARTE KNUTT in a yard along with a 17-year-old girl, who was seated in the front passenger side of the vehicle.
The soldier and the girl were both arrested and subsequently charged for the offence of breach of curfew.
The girl appeared before the Juvenile Court on Monday 19th July, where she pleaded guilty to the charge.
The Court Social Services section was then ordered to provide a pre-sentencing psycho-social report on her behalf on Wednesday 25th August, 2021.
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