PHILIPSBURG--Three men were sentenced Wednesday to prison sentences of 14 years and six months, 11 years and six years, two of which were suspended, on three years' probation for involvement in the kidnapping and torture of a resident of the Cay Hill area last December, and another man in Pelican in January.
Isidro E. Josepha (27), who is considered the leader of the operation, received the highest sentence of 14 years and six months, while Roberto F. Gumbs (36) was sentenced according to the Prosecutor's demand to 11 years. Jeannot Sanon (22) received the lightest sentence of six years, two of which were suspended, on three years' probation.
On September 7, kidnapper James H. Hodge (33) was already sentenced to 30 months, 18 months of which were suspended, on two years' probation, for his role in the kidnapping together with five others of Israeli national N.O.W. Awad on December 16, 2010.
Awad was held at a location in Middle Region for 24 hours, during which he was beaten and burnt with cigarettes and an iron. He managed to escape from his kidnappers when, while riding in a vehicle, a traffic back-up in front of ACE Home Centre in Cay Hill presented him an opportunity to jump out the vehicle and run for cover inside ACE. He hid in the establishment, while police were summoned.
In March 2007, the Court in First Instance sentenced Awad together with six other suspects to 48 months for his role in a drugs smuggling ring that used cruise ship Mariner of the Seas to transport marijuana from Jamaica to St. Maarten, and cocaine from St. Maarten to the United States. The kidnapping is believed to be related to this operation.
During the hostage the group of abductors went to the man's house and stole electronics and other items.
Gumbs, Josepha and Sanon were also found guilty of involvement in the January 3 attempted abduction of R.L. Murray in Pelican. Murray managed to escape from his foes while gunshots were fired at him in the parking lot of Flamingo hotel.
During the court hearing of August 31, Prosecutor Bart den Hartigh had demanded 15 years for Josepha, 11 years for Gumbs and six years for Sanon.
Judge Monique Keppels granted Josepha a six months' reduction on his sentence, because he has spent six weeks too long in a police cell during his pre-trial detention.
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