A defence force soldier has been formally accused of a criminal offence after he allegedly broke into Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s home while he, [Browne] his wife and son were overseas on vacation recently.
The soldier has been identified as 22-year-old Zavier Baltimore of Golden Grove, who joined the force in May this year, after training for six months with the last batch of recruits.
It is alleged that some time between August 3 and 10, Baltimore broke into PM Browne’s private Hodges Bay residence.
The police said they are also contemplating charging Baltimore with misbehaviour in public office, but there’s no word yet on whether he would be charged with larceny for the two missing laptops and an Ipad which PM Browne yesterday said belonged to his mother-in-law.
Up to last night, the items had not been recovered and the country’s leader declined to comment further on the matter.
Baltimore was one of several defence force soldiers who guarded the property between 6 pm and 6 am daily since his graduation on May 31, 2016, where PM Browne had delivered the charge.
Browne had praised Baltimore and his 21 colleagues for their career choice on that day, saying, “Clearly you are now part of an institution that is very important to the development of this country. You could have taken the position to become bankers or to work in the aviation industry, but you have chosen a life of service, and I guarantee you there is no more significant human endeavour than a life of service.”
Commissioner of Police Wendel Robinson confirmed the accused soldier is expected in court this week. He refused to be drawn on additional information regarding the possibility of other persons being involved saying, “that would hinder ongoing investigations.”