CHIEF Magistrate Ms Priya Sewnarine-Beharry yesterday refused bail to 58-year-old Edward Jones, a Canada-bound citizen (no address given) who, on Tuesday, January 7, allegedly was discovered concealing 9.545 kg of cocaine, reportedly for the purpose of trafficking, in the false bottom of his suitcase whilst at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at Timehri, East Bank of Demerara.Police Corporal Bharat Mangru, prosecuting, told the court that at approximately 13:45 hrs on the day in question, the defendant was a transit passenger on a flight destined for Canada when ranks from the narcotics branch asked him to step off the aircraft to undergo a routine check, during which a false bottom was observed on his suitcase. Police broke the false bottom of the suitcase and a whitish substance in transparent bags was revealed.

Jones was told of the offence and was cautioned, but he denied any knowledge of the presence of the substance in his suitcase.

Represented by Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Marcel Bobb, in association with Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Roger Yearwood, Jones pleaded not guilty to the offence of trafficking in a prohibited substance.

Defence counsel, Bobb, saying that Jones was suffering from hypertension and diabetes, requested reasonable bail in relation to his client’s medical condition. The lawyer said his client is not a flight risk, since he has a child mother with offspring in Guyana, and his passport is in police custody.

Prosecutor Corporal Mangru objected to bail on grounds that the defendant has no ties to this country, and during investigation and questioning, had told the police that he has no relatives in Guyana.

Bail was refused, and the matter was transferred to the Providence Magistrate’s Court for January 13.