PHILIPSBURG--The three judges of the Court of Appeals lowered the sentences Thursday of two men who are currently sitting out lengthy jail sentences for the (attempted) kidnapping and robbery of two persons in St. Maarten.
Three men were sentenced on September 21 to prison sentences for involvement in the kidnapping and torture of a Cay Hill resident in December 2010, and the attempted abduction of another man in Pelican in January 2011.
Isidro E. Josepha (27), who was 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.
Both men had appealed their sentences, because they maintained their innocence.
The Court of Appeals found it proven that Josepha and Gumbs had been among the six men in total who had kidnapped Israeli national N.O.W. Awad from his home on Cougar Road in Cay Hill on December 16, 2010.
Awad was held at a house in Middle Region for 24 hours, during which he was tortured, beaten and burnt with cigarettes. During the hostage, the group of abductors went to Awad's house and stole electronics and other items, most of which were later found in Josepha's house.
Awad had managed to escape from his foes by jumping out of a driving car.
The judge in the Court of First Instance found Gumbs and Josepha also guilty of involvement in the January 3, attempted abduction of R.L. Murray in Pelican. The Appeals Court, however, acquitted both men of this crime for lack of convincing evidence.
This led the Appeals Court to reduce the sentences. Gumbs was sentenced to eight years and six months, while Josepha received ten years and six months.
Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/23927-lower-sentences-for-kidnappers-.html
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