By Zaya Williams

Shukur Hodge got some pleasant news on Friday as he learned that the arson charge against him had been dropped.

Hodge had been implicated in the alleged burning of the Bon Appetit restaurant, valued at $892,000, located in Falmouth on May 1, 2021.

The dismissal of the case occurred before Justice Tunde Bakre on Friday when the prosecution entered a nolle prosequi, formally signalling their decision not to proceed with prosecuting the case.

The primary reason cited for this move was the lack of evidence against the accused.

As a result of the case dismissal, Hodge’s record is now cleared of the arson charge, and all previous bail stipulations no longer apply.

Hodge had been under a $100,000 bond since the incident, during which his travel documents were confiscated, and a curfew was imposed.

With the case dropped, he is now free to move about without these restrictions.

However, the repercussions extend beyond Hodge’s legal standing.

The nearly million-dollar Bon Appetit restaurant, which had been destroyed, is still awaiting reconstruction.

Additionally, the contents of the restaurant, valued at $395,000, are irrevocably lost.