Men charged with 10,892 grams of cocaine

Junior Gomez, a 26-year-old farmer of Trinidad and Tobago and 41-year-old Gabrielle Hutchins, a chef of Bequia, appeared before the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court yesterday, charged with possession of 10,892 grams of cocaine with intent to supply.{{more}}

Both men pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply to another; possession of a controlled drug for the purpose of drug trafficking; importing a controlled drug for the purpose of drug trafficking; and conspiring with each other between November 1 and 7 to commit the offence of drug trafficking at Port Elizabeth, Bequia, on Friday, November 6.

They were charged on November 8.

Senior prosecutor Adolphus Delpesche objected to granting bail to the Trinidadian farmer, stating that he has no ties to this jurisdiction and is a flight risk.

He, however, did not object to Hutchins’ bail, but asked that he surrender his travel documents and report to the police station in his district.

Lawyer Stephen Williams, who is representing Gomez, suggested that the court open bail to his client and seize his travel documents. This did not sway Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias who agreed with the prosecution and denied Gomez bail.

Browne-Matthias, however, assured the court that the matter would be dealt with expeditiously and further remanded him until his next court date.

Bail was then granted to Hutchins in the sum of $100,000 with one surety. Hutchins, who is being represented by attorney Grant Connell, was ordered to surrender his travel documents and is to report to the Mustique Police Station every Monday between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The matter was adjourned to January 26 2015.(AS)