Regiment duo fined

Two Bermuda Regiment soldiers were fined in court this morning for failing to complete their duties.

Ryan Lima, 21, pleaded guilty to missing dates between November 2012 and March 2013.

He also admitted not completing 15 extra days given to him as punishment and not paying a $562 fine.

The court heard Lima was enlisted in the Regiment in 2010 and was required to attend on a regular basis.

After missing a slew of dates, Lima was required to compete 15 extra days last October but failed to do so.

As a result, he was fined but has yet to pay the fine.

The court heard Lima has completed 42 drills since he was enlisted more than two years ago. Forty drills are required per year.

Lima’s lawyer Richard Horseman asked for a suspended sentence for his client and said that his fine would be paid immediately.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner gave Lima a $500 fine for each offence and a three month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

In a separate case, Fabio Botelho, 24, also admitted missing 30 days between March 2012 and March 2013.

The court heard he was enlisted in 2009 and required to attend regularly.

Botelho has completed 102 drills during his service. A minimum of 40 per year was required.

Addressing the court, Botelho said: “I apologise for not showing up. I’m sorry for the inconvenience for everybody and wasting everybody’s time here.

“I apologise again.”

Mr Warner fined Botelho $1,000 and gave him a three month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

Both men were warned if they commit any further offences over the next year, the sentence could be activated.