Jamaican woman faces charges for trafficking women into Bahamas

A Jamaican woman is facing several charges in connection with an alleged trafficking case involving three Jamaican females who were brought into The Bahamas earlier this year.

Simone Moore, 41, has been charged with three counts of trafficking in persons and two counts of conspiracy to traffic persons. 

In addition to the trafficking-related charges, Moore is charged with three counts of unlawful withholding of identification papers. 

Her Bahamian co-accused, 56-year-old Gregory Simms, a flight mechanic, also faces similar charges.

Bail granted in Magistrate Court appearance

Both Moore and Simms on Tuesday appeared in a Magistrate Court in The Bahamas to address the charges against them. 

According to media reports, they were granted bail in the sum of BSD$9,000, equivalent to approximately J$1.4 million.

The case is scheduled to move forward with a voluntary bill of indictment process, set to commence on February 28, 2024. 

Allegations of trafficking and passport withholding

According to the report, the allegations state that two Jamaican women were smuggled into New Providence in The Bahamas between February 1 and October 26, 2023. 

Moore and Simms are accused of subsequently withholding the passports of these women over the specified period.

A third victim identified

Further investigations reveal that between October 1 and October 26 of this year, a third Jamaican woman was trafficked into New Providence, with her passport similarly being withheld by Simone Moore.

Arrest and charges follow investigation

After a thorough investigation into these troubling allegations, Moore and Simms were arrested and subsequently charged.