They are accused of various fishing offences but three fishermen are making counter allegations against the Gang Suppression Unit. Fisheries officers busted seven persons including a minor for possession of conch outside of the closed season and of undersized conch on August 9 at Long Caye in the Lighthouse Atolls. 26 year old Vidal Orellano, 30 year old Gilmar Patt and 5 others were charged with several fisheries offences when they appeared yesterday before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford. Two of them, Patt and a 14 year old boy, were charged with possession of 285 conch during closed season and possession of 282 undersized conch. Rodrigo Patt and 4 others were charged with possession of 206 conch during closed season, possession of 204 undersized conch, possession of 123 conch during closed season and possession of 121 undersized conch. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges. In court Orellano and Patt alleged they were beaten and assaulted by GSU officers who asked about an ice box filled with conch. Orellano said one fired a shot near his ear while he was on the ground. There is no indication of why the GSU were involved in a routine fisheries bust. They were told to return to court on October 16. The fishermen were represented by attorney Dickie Bradley.
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They are accused of various fishing offences but three fishermen are making counter allegations against the Gang Suppression Unit. Fisheries officers busted seven persons including a minor for possession of conch outside of the closed season and of undersized conch on August 9 at Long Caye in the Lighthouse Atolls. 26 year old Vidal Orellano, 30 year old Gilmar Patt and 5 others were charged with several fisheries offences when they appeared yesterday before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford. Two of them, Patt and a 14 year old boy, were charged with possession of 285 conch during closed season and possession of 282 undersized conch. Rodrigo Patt and 4 others were charged with possession of 206 conch during closed season, possession of 204 undersized conch, possession of 123 conch during closed season and possession of 121 undersized conch. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges. In court Orellano and Patt alleged they were beaten and assaulted by GSU officers who asked about an ice box filled with conch. Orellano said one fired a shot near his ear while he was on the ground. There is no indication of why the GSU were involved in a routine fisheries bust. They were told to return to court on October 16. The fishermen were represented by attorney Dickie Bradley.