Magistrate ups bail condition for drug suspects
From the Courts
September 9, 2016
Magistrate ups bail condition for drug suspects

The bail of three men who were charged, early last month, with possession of cocaine and conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, was significantly raised when they appeared before the Serious Offences Court on Wednesday.{{more}}

When Mosiah Coy of Union Island and Ezekiel Tash of Prospect appeared before magistrate Bertie Pompey on August 3, they were jointly charged that between “July 20 and 30 at Prospect, they did agree with each other that a conduct shall be pursued which, if the agreement was carried out in accordance with their intention, will necessarily amount to or involve the commission of the offence of drug trafficking, contrary to Section 310(1) of the criminal code, chapter 171 of revised edition of the laws of SVG.”

Jafari Robertson of Prospect joined Coy in the defendant’s box and they were charged that on July 30 at Prospect, they had in their possession 3,367 grams of cocaine, with intent to supply to another.

Coy, Tash and Robertson all pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of $15,000, $5,000 and $10,000 respectively, with one surety each.

However, when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias at the Serious Offences Court on Wednesday, she was not as lenient as the Magistrate’s Court was last month.

Coy’s bail was raised to $160,000 with two sureties; Tash’s bail was raised to $50,000 with one surety; and Robertson’s bail was raised to $120,000 with two sureties.

Also Union Island resident Alex Stewart, who joined the men with three charges relating to the incident, was granted composite bail in the sum of $160,000 with two sureties.

All four men were ordered not to leave the state without the express permission of the court and were further ordered to surrender all travel documents.

Coy and Stewart are to report to the Union Island Police Station every Monday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., while Tash and Robertson were ordered to report to the Calliaqua Police Station every Monday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Stop notices are also placed at all ports of exit and entry.

All four men are expected to reappear before the court on October 3, 2016.(AS)