Chief Executive Officer of the Exec Jet Club Khamraj Lall, who was recently caught with US$620,000 stashed aboard his private jet at a Puerto Rican airport, on Monday secured a two-day extension for the processing of his bail documents.
Magistrate Judge Marcos Lopez granted the extension based on a motion on Monday by Lall’s lawyer, Rafael F. Castro Lang, one week after the Guyanese pilot was granted US$100,000 bail bond release. In his motion, Lang noted that as part of the conditions for bail Lall was given five business days with an “unsecured” bail, which would then become cash or “secured” bail.
Unsecured bail bond, according to USLegal.com, means a bond that holds a defendant liable for a breach of the bond’s conditions in which defendant signs a contract and agrees to appear before the court. If s/he fails to do so, s/he promises to pay later the agreed bail bond amount before the court. On the other hand, secured bail requires the defendant, or someone on her/his behalf, to come up with a secured item, such as a property deed, that is of equal value to the amount of bail. If the defendant doesn’t appear in court, the secured item is forfeited as payment.
Lang stated that all documentation had to be original in order for the clerk’s office to process the bail. He said it was sent via express mail to him but only reached the clerk’s office on Monday and the office was then in the process of verifying all the information and coordinating where in New Jersey Lall’s mother would have to go and sign. As a result, the attorney asked for a two-day extension which was granted.
As part of the surety for his bail, Lall had to submit his pilot’s licences.
The conditions for his bail also include confinement to his New Jersey home, with the only travel allowed being to Puerto Rico for his court hearing.
While still being the CEO of his company, Lall can only operate in an administrative capacity and perform his duties from his residence.
At last week Monday’s hearing, Lall filed a waiver of preliminary hearing, which was approved, and probable cause as to the charges contained in the criminal complaint was found.
Lall appeared before Magistrate Judge Lopez, who also ordered that he not violate federal, state, or local law while on release; must cooperate in the collection of a DNA sample if it is authorised; must advise the court or the pre-trial services office or supervising officer in writing before making any change of residence or telephone number; and must appear in court as required and if convicted must surrender as directed to serve a sentence that the court may impose.
Searches of Lall’s private aircraft during a refueling stop at the Luis Munoz International Airport, in San Juan, on November 22, uncovered US$150,000, wrapped in plastic bags and a blanket under the exit row seat and US$470,000 in a black suitcase inside a compartment next to the engines which contained several black garbage bags containing bundles of currency.
Lall, authorities said, accepted responsibility and ownership for the money and informed that his pilot and his father, who were with him during the refueling stop, had nothing to with the monies. Under US law, amounts over US$10,000 must be declared.
