The trial of ex-ministerial aide Kenroy Joseph along with a couple, Mahendra Ramsuchit and Rohbina Basdeoram, who are accused of a plot to smuggle cocaine out of the country, is yet to commence some six months after they were charged.
When the three accused made another court appearance yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court 3, where the matter was set for trial before Magistrate Judy Latchman, the proceedings were adjourned to September 14th, which is now the date slated for the commencement of the trial.
At yesterday’s hearing, all three accused were present in court along with the attorney for Basdeoram and Ramsuchit.
Although the case file is completed and the prosecution is ready to proceed with the case, the matter was adjourned after the attorney made an application while noting that he will be out of the jurisdiction and will return early September.
Ramsuchit, 29, of Lot 18 Rose Hall, East Canje, Berbice, and Basdeoram, who is a Canadian national, were charged with drug trafficking on February 3rd of this year. Ramsuchit is accused of having had 10.392 kilogrammes of cocaine in his possession, while Basdeoram is accused of having had 10.968 kilogrammes, on January 30th, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri (CJIA).
Joseph, 29, of 69 D’Andrade Street, Newtown, Kitty, was arraigned days later on charges that he aided and abetted Ramsuchit and Basdeoram to traffic 21.360 kilogrammes of cocaine. It is the police’s case that he 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 Office (ADO) stating that he was carrying
out protocol duties for Ramsuchit and Basdeoram.
Joseph was previously employed as a personal assistant to Junior Agriculture Minister Ali Baksh for over two years.
They had all pleaded not guilty and were remanded to prison. However, after Basdeoram’s attorney had renewed her application for bail she was granted her pre-trial liberty by Magistrate Latchman due to her being pregnant and near delivery at the time.
The other two accused were able to acquire bail by applying to the High Court.