May will see the commencement of the trial of the three persons charged with trying to smuggle cocaine onto a Canada-bound flight by using the Cheddi Jagan International Airport’s VIP section to evade security.
Mahendra Ramsuchit, Rohbina Basdeoram and Kenroy Joseph are charged with narcotics trafficking.
At a hearing on Friday, Basdeoram was absent and her attorney requested that her absence be excused. But trial magistrate Judy Latchman informed that an arrest warrant will be issued on May 7th, which is set for the commencement of trial, should any of them fail to appear.
Ramsuchit, 29, of Lot 18 Rose Hall, East Canje, Berbice, and his wife, Basdeoram, are charged with having 10.392 kilogrammes of cocaine and 10.968 kilogrammes, respectively, in their possession for the purpose of trafficking. Joseph, who is an ex-ministerial aide, is accused of aiding and abetting Ramsuchit and Basdeoram to traffic the cocaine
Police say the couple, who were booked on a Fly Jamaica flight destined for Toronto, Canada, initially evaded security by boarding the flight by way of the VIP section on the pretext of being relatives of a government official.
It is the police’s case that Joseph helped the couple to pass through the VIP lounge of the airplane by presenting forged documents from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Airport Duty Officer (ADO) stating that he was carrying out protocol duties for Ramsuchit and Basdeoram.
They have all pleaded not guilty.
