LEDEDRA MARCHE

FN News Editor

lededra@nasguard.com

Two ex-cops sentenced to two years in prison on a firearm charge were released on bail after appearing before the Court of Appeal earlier this week.

The first dismissed officer, Constable Renardo Bethel, had initially appeared before the Appeals Court on Wednesday, July 23, and the matter was adjourned to Monday, July 30.

On that date, Bethel, 25, bail was set at $12,000 with two sureties pending appeal of his conviction.

He was represented by Attorney Lorenzo Lopez and is to report to the Central Police Station on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The following day, Corporal Dion Morris went before the Court of Appeal and was also given bail in the amount of $16,000 with two sureties.

Morris, 39, was represented by Attorney Dion Smith.

The condition of his bail is that he, too, report to the Central Police Station in Grand Bahama, every Monday and Wednesday.

The charge stems from their December 2008 arrest when the duo was attached to the Port Lucaya Police Station.

They were arraigned in January 2009 before Freeport Magistrate Debbye Ferguson in Court 1, concerned together with possession of ammunition and were alleged to have been found in possession of seven live rounds of .45 calibre ammunition.

Police later brought charges against a husband and wife in relation to the case. However, they were later released.

Bethel and Morris were convicted back in May of this year and sentenced to two years in prison.

Days later they were dismissed from the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

However, the former officers are appealing the conviction and applying for bail on five grounds, one of which is false imprisonment.

The men are expected to return before the Court of Appeal before year end.