A YOUNG girl and her boyfriend had been sentenced to jail after she broke her 14-day coronavirus quarantine to observe his jet ski competitors.
Skylar Mack, 18, breached her quarantine after simply two days within the Caribbean island to observe her boyfriend, Vanjae Ramgeet, 24, race on the water, PEOPLE reported on Wednesday.
Skylar Mack, 18, broke her 14-day quarantine after two daysCredit score: Fb
The couple had been sentenced to 4 months in jail on Tuesday morning, after the Cayman Islands’ Director of Public Prosecutions Patrick Moran appealed their unique sentence.
Initially, Mack and Ramgeet had been every handed a $2,600 tremendous and 40 hours of neighborhood service.
Mack, a pupil from Loganville, Georgia, arrived within the Cayman Islands on November 27.
On November 29, Mack took off her geo-fencing bracelet and left her residence to see Ramgeet compete.
Vanjae Ramgeet, 24, was charged with aiding and abetting his girlfriendCredit score: Fb
Mack and Ramgeet reportedly got here in touch with different individuals on the occasion over a span of greater than seven hours and didn’t put on masks or observe social distancing.
After getting arrested, the couple stayed at a authorities quarantine facility for 14 days, ending on Tuesday.
Ramgeet was charged with aiding and abetting Mack.
Mack and Ramgeet pleaded responsible.
Mack, a pupil from Loganville, Georgia, arrived within the Cayman Islands on November 27Credit score: Fb
Moran appealed the couple’s unique sentence as a result of he believed the offenses “ought to have been met with much more stringent measures,” in keeping with the Cayman Compass.
“In the case of a matter of deterrence, the sentences imposed are more likely to have little to no impact on different like-minded people,” Moran instructed the Grand Court docket on Monday.
The {couples}’ lawyer, Jonathan Hughes, argued that the sentences had been too harsh and that their offenses had been owed to “youthful ignorance and selfishness.”
“There isn’t any means that it may be proper {that a} custodial sentence is imposed for a first-time offense on an 18-year-old defendant, who entered an early responsible plea,” Hughes instructed the Cayman Compass.
Ramgeet was pressured to return his trophy and prize cash from the jet ski competitors Credit score: Fb
Hughes added that Mack totally paid her tremendous from her financial savings.
“She has obtained hate mail, as far as to say even loss of life threats,” Hughes stated.
“This has even impacted her father, who can be knowledgeable jet-ski rider and has now misplaced sponsorship due to it.”
Mack wrote in an announcement to the Compass: “I’m conscious that the Cayman Islands Authorities has accomplished nothing however dedicate excessive warning to fight the unfold of COVID-19, for this the nation and its residents may be extraordinarily proud.
“I made a mistake, and phrases can not specific how sorry I’m for this… I used to be afforded the chance to enter the islands throughout these attempting instances and I abused it. I’m humbly asking for the forgiveness of the neighborhood.”
In the meantime, Ramgeet was pressured to return his trophy and reward cash, and to put in writing an apology to the Cayman Islands Watercraft Affiliation.
He has additionally been barred from competing in a number of of the primary races occurring subsequent 12 months.
Moran’s workplace stated in an announcement that the Cayman Islands Authorities has prioritized the protection of its residents amid the coronavirus pandemic since early 2020.
“To perform this objective the Authorities employed stringent isolation and social distancing insurance policies,” the workplace said.
