TWENTY-nine-year-old Jermaine Bristol of Lot 2034 Stevedore Housing Scheme, Georgetown, and 53-year-old Barbara Jacobs of Lot 200 Prospect, East Bank Demerara were on Monday remanded by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on a trafficking narcotics charge.
Both Special Constables stationed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), the duo pleaded not guilty to the allegation that on November 17, 2014, at the CJIA, they conspired with Anthony Collins and other person(s) unknown to traffic a quantity of cocaine.
The court also heard that between August 1 and October 31, 2014, at Stabroek, Georgetown, Bristol conspired with Anthony Collins and other person(s) unknown to traffic a quantity of cocaine.
Bristol pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru explained that American citizen Wilton Sinclair an left Guyana on November 17, 2014 and was stopped at the John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport in USA when authorities discovered that the four bottles of rum he had on him was laced with cocaine.
The Prosecutor said CCTV footage from the airport revealed the two defendants operating in a manner beyond their normal duty. He noted that Bristol admitted that he had been paid by an individual, but denied having anything to do with the drugs, and Bristol had even told police that he had paid Jacobs to become involved in the safe passage of the drugs; but when questioned, the woman admitted to passing two duty free bags, but denied knowing they contained cocaine also.
Bristol was represented by Attorney-at-Law Gordon Gilhuys, who said his client had been in custody since last Wednesday, well in excess of the allowable 72 hours. He also claimed that Bristol had been badly beaten by a police sergeant and had to be rushed to the hospital by a constable. Moreover, Gilhuys said that his client had no knowledge of a drug trafficking conspiracy.
Jacobs was represented by Attorney-at-Law Folio Richards, who told the court that her client has been a member of the GPF for the past twenty years, is known for her impeccable character, and is not a flight risk. She asked for reasonable bail for her client.
Prosecutor Mangru objected to bail, citing that no compelling reasons had been advanced by defence counsel. Bail was refused and the duo was remanded. The case will be called again on January 26, while an investigation is to be launched into Bristol’s allegation that he had been beaten.
