Man Spends 5 Months in Rikers Island Unaware His Bail Was Only $2

A Queens man could have posted bail with the loose change in his pockets, had he known his bail was only two dollars. Instead he spend five months sitting in Riker's Island

Aitabdel Salem, 41, of Queens was acquitted of bail jumping last week, after he had been originally jailed for attacking a NYPD officer who was trying to arrest him for stealing a coat in November of 2014.

Prosecutors could not get an indictment and Salem was ordered to be released on Nov.28 2014, according to Vibe.  However, he still had dollar bails on each of his two minor offenses (Tampering, and Mischief charges). So, Salem was unable to walk out a free man until he paid his bail. Unfortunately, he was not made aware that his bail was only $2 until later...five months later.

Salem blames his lawyer for failing to notify him that his bail was so cheap.