Wednesday June 04, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 25
Cocaine charges for Guyanese caught with US$35,000 at JFK A Guyanese charged with failing to disclose he was travelling with more than US$30,000 from New York to Guyana, back in February, is in more trouble. This time, a US court has slapped Vilton Bourne, 30, with charges also of conspiracy to import cocaine into that country. According to court papers dated May 16, and signed by US District Attorney, Loretta Lynch, Bourne will face a grand jury. In count one, Bourne was accused of between August 2013 and February 2014, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, and together with others, knowingly and intentionally conspiring to import cocaine. In the second count, “Bulk Cash Smuggling”, the indictment accused Bourne of
Vilton Bourne concealing approximately US$35,577, on his person and in articles of luggage and other containers. Further, he attempted to leave the US with the cash. The indictment made it clear that it will move to seize any properties from the
defendant, upon his conviction of the conspiracy offense. This includes the cash he was accused of attempting to travel with. Bourne was placed on US$50,000 bail after he was hauled off a Caribbean Airlines flight to Guyana from JFK airport on February 19. Personnel from the Customs and Border Protection at the JFK International Airport selected him for an “outboard enforcement” examination. He declared US$9,000 and signed a form. However, he reportedly presented US$10,000 to the officers, the complaint said. He was asked if he had other cash and Bourne replied in the negative. According to the special agent, the security officials took his two pieces of luggage
Timehri Backlands murder…
Three police ranks testify in PI Three police witnesses were yesterday called to testify as the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the death of a female taxi driver who was earlier this year found dead in a clump of bushes, one mile from Jubilee Fun Park and Resort, Timehri, East Bank Demerara, continued at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday. Sylvester Bristol also known as “Rambo” is currently charged with murdering taxi driver Savitri ‘Maya’ Parma sometime between February 15 and 16, last at Dakara Creek on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway. Parma, a mother of two who resided at Loncke’s Avenue, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, was reportedly raped and strangled with a bootlace several hours before her body was discovered in the wee hours of the morning of February 16. She was said to have been murdered by the accused who she offered a lift to Loam Pit after picking him up at his work place on the night of February 15. While Parma’s body was reportedly found faced down with her head “pressed to the earth,” her nine-year-old son was found sleeping in the rear seat of her abandoned taxi hours later by her husband who decided to search for his “missing wife.” Investigators who probed the case were led to the accused, who was reportedly found hiding in a wardrobe at his living quarters at Bashir Sandpit, Linden/Soesdyke Highway. The PI got underway Monday last in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and is scheduled to be called again today before
Murder Accused: Sylvester Bristol
Dead: Savitri Parma
Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. Bristol is being prosecuted by Corporal Bharat Mangru who is attached to the chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). He is currently unrepresented by legal counsel. At the commencement on Monday, the court heard sworn testimonies from the widower Kamal Parma, their nine-year-old son, her fatherin-law Kissoon Parma and sister, Sharon Gangadeen. As the proceedings continued yesterday, three police witnesses were called to offer sworn testimonies on behalf of the state. Detective Constable Mark Gaspar attached to the Crime Laboratory at the Headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Division (CID), Eve Leary, first took the
stand and related the role he played in conducting the investigations. His testimony was followed by that of Constable Ze Bartholomey stationed at the Eve Leary Police Outpost. Bartholomey told of the part he played in the investigations and was cross examined by Bristol who does not have an attorney. The last to offer a sworn testimony was Constable Shawn Beharry from the Prashad Nagar Police Outpost. At the time of the alleged murder he was stationed at Timehri. Beharry who offered a lengthy testimony was cross examined by Attorney at Law James Bond who was asked by the Chief Magistrate at that time to appear amicus curiae on behalf of the accused. The PI is scheduled to continue today.
and searched them. There was US$10,000 in each. In the defendant’s wallet, the officials discovered that Bourne had US$5,577. He was arrested. In total, the complaint
said, Bourne had US$35,577. On February 20, he appeared before Judge Cheryl Pollak of the Eastern District of New York Court. Bourne was ordered held until February 24 when he was
placed on US$50,000 bail. According to court documents, there may be a possibility of a plea bargain. Bourne was ordered not to leave the New York area until the matter is completed.