By Latrishka Thomas
Transgender social media personality, Washington Bramble, has been slapped with nine charges in relation to alleged offensive statements made on social media.
It is said that Bramble uploaded a video and made posts on Facebook referring to Chief Health Inspector Sharon Martin on February 8 and 9 this year.
Bramble allegedly created the first post after health inspectors visited her home in response to a neighbour’s report to the Central Board of Health that Bramble had thrown faeces onto their property.
The next day the accused reportedly posted another message directed at the Chief Health Inspector.
Bramble was taken into custody on March 24 and a search warrant was executed at her home and her electronic devices seized.
After being questioned, she was released pending further investigations.
After investigating the matter, police charged the 41-year-old Hatton resident with intentionally and without lawful excuse or justification sending electronic messages through video for the purpose of insulting, causing hatred and causing enmity to Sharon Martin, and also insulting, causing hatred and causing enmity through electronic messages on Facebook on two separate days.
Bramble made her first appearance in court with her lawyer Justin Simon.
Simon stated that his client was in custody overnight and had to be taken to the hospital because of a spike in her blood pressure.
He therefore asked for her to be released in her own reconnaissance, but Magistrate Conliffe Clarke thought that to be “a bit generous given the penalties for these offences”.
The magistrate instead gave bail to the defendant in the sum of $10,000 with a $1,000 cash component.
The defendant also has to report to the nearest police station twice a week, and refrain from contacting the complainant, along with other conditions.
The prosecution indicated that they wish to take the indictable route and take the matters up to the High Court.
That means that Bramble could be fined up to $500,000, spend seven years behind bars, or both.
The date for the defendant’s committal hearing is July 12.