(Jamaica Gleaner) Hyacinth Ford-Dryden, the woman suspected in the trafficking of several Jamaican children to the United States, appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
After being denied bail by Senior Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey, Ford-Dryden was ordered to be taken back to court on January 26 when the case will be mentioned.
The 53-year-old bar operator, of Bog Walk, St Catherine, is charged with possession of forged documents and uttering forged documents. The court was informed that there were human-trafficking charges pending against Ford-Dryden.
She is being represented by attorney-at-law Everton Dewar.
Forged documents
The Crown is alleging that, on December 8 last year, Ford-Dryden went to the United States Embassy to get a non-immigrant visa for a 16-year-old girl who she claimed was her adopted daughter. It is being alleged that it was suspected that the documents she presented were forged and the police were called in to investigate the matter. She was arrested and charged with forgery.
Following Ford-Dryden’s arrest, the police launched an intensive investigation into the trafficking of persons’ cases. The police suspect that the woman had been involved in the scheme for several years and had allegedly sent at least 17 children between the ages of five and 16 to the United States.
Steps are now being taken by the police with the assistance of US law enforcement officials to find the children.
