The owner of a Southampton garage has been charged with unlawfully employing a Jamaican man.

Ricky Johnson, 51, of Orchard Lane, Pembroke, denied hiring 58-year-old Jamaican national Owen Morrison without a work permit, when he appeared in Magistrates’ Court today.

Morrison fled the Island last week, having skipped bail after he had been charged with working without a permit.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner released Mr Johnson on $2,000 bail.

He will be tried on July 21.

Mr Morrison was scheduled to appear in court on March 31 after being released on $2,000 bail by Mr Warner.

However, Crown Counsul Kenlyn Swan told Mr Warner the following day that Mr Morrison had left the Island.

“I received information from the Department of Immigration that Mr Morrison had left the jurisdiction,” said Ms Swan.

Ms Swan’s application to issue a warrant for Mr Morrison’s arrest was refused by Mr Warner, who argued that the goal was to get Mr Morrison off the Island and that had been accomplished.

“Persons need to be punished so it deters others from committing the same crime,” said Ms Swan.

She added that if Mr Morrison came back to the Island, she would appeal the refusal of a warrant, adding that the Department of Immigration would be the best people to prevent Mr Morrison’s return.