JEVON David, a 28-year-old dog handler attached to the Narcotics Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), was yesterday refused bail by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on a narcotics charge.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge, particulars of which said that on Friday, May 23, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), he procured Eyon Persaud to traffic 3.498 kg of cocaine.

He was remanded to prison, and the case was transferred to the Providence Magistrate’s Court for June 6.
David hails from Brighton Village, Corentyne Coast, Berbice, and has been working at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) for the past three years.

His attorney-at-law, Mr. Peter Hugh, applied for bail to be granted and for statements to be served to his client. He complained about his client’s clothes being torn, and said that David was held under close arrest at Hyde Park, Timehri for twelve days.

Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Oswald Massiah, confirmed that the defendant was held under close arrest, but he contended that David was not mistreated.

The facts of the case were not read in court, but the prosecutor requested that David be refused bail on the grounds that no special reason was given to the court.

Eyon Persaud, 25, of Hyde Park, Timehri, and Alex Seymour, 20, of 58 Garnett Street, Newtown, Kitty were brought before the Chief Magistrate on May 28 at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Courts, where the CANU Prosecutor revealed that a police dog handler was also implicated in the plot.

Persaud and Seymour were charged with having possession of 2.234 kilogrammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking on May 23, at CJIA. Both men pleaded not guilty and were remanded to prison. Their matter was also transferred to the Providence Magistrate’s Court.

(By Geeta Rampersaud)