8 NEWS
wednesDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com
Bermudian cocaine mule gets 4 years, $1.4M fine for trafficking in narcotics
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wenty-three-year-old Njere Febler of Lot 64 Robert Avenue, HM 15, Bermuda was sentenced to four years imprisonment along with a fine of $1,480,700 after she accepted to a trafficking in narcotic charge. The woman appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Ann McLennan on Tuesday morning. It was alleged that on January 24, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, East Bank Demerara, she had in her possession 551 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. The woman who is an electrician by profession pleaded
Njere Febler
guilty without hesitation to the charge. It was heard that
Febler was an outgoing passenger of a Caribbean Airline flight BW524 destined for the JFK International Airport. As she was passing through the check point, a rank from the Narcotic branch found a pellet in her purse. When it was examined, it contained a whitish substance which was suspected to be cocaine. The defendant was questioned by the said rank when she admitted swallowing some pellets which contained the substance. Febler was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was given a laxative to pass the pellets she had swallowed. The court heard that she
passed 67 pellets which contained the drug. After sometime, she was taken to the Narcotics branch headquarters where the drug was examined and weighed in her presence, and which amounted to 551 grams. Further investigations were carried out by the ranks which lead to the defendant’s subsequent arrest. The Magistrate then asked Febler whether she would like to say anything in relation to the facts that were read against her, to which she replied in the negative. However, she said that she is willing to help with the investigation and find “the men that had given her the drug”.
Man remanded for robbery under arms, disorderly behaviour
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Terry Cromwell
erry Cromwell, age 22, was remanded to prison after being arraigned on a robbery under arms charge and a disorderly behaviour charge. The man appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Ann McLennan on Tuesday afternoon. It was alleged that on January 20, at a public place, he behaved disorderly. The defendant denied the charge. His second allegation read that on November 16, 2012 at East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, being armed with a gun, he robbed Dylan Fraser of a gold
chain worth $100,000 and a gold band worth $60,000; a total value of $160,000. Cromwell pleaded not guilty to this charge. Cromwell also denied his last charge which read that on December 19, 2014 at Albouystown, he discharged a loaded firearm with the intention of maiming, disfiguring, disabling or to cause grievous bodily harm to the Virtual Complainant (VC) Shawn Harvy. However, the last charge that was laid against him was dismissed since Harvey wished not to offer evidence.
Police Prosecutor Denero Jones objected to bail citing the nature, gravity and prevalence of the offence. The Magistrate then remanded Cromwell for the other two offences. The matter stands adjourned until February 4 where he will make his next court appearance before Magistrate Judy Latchman.
Man accused of stealing money from bank accounts on $50,000 bail
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orty-year-old Kirk Adrian Clarke was placed on $50,000 bail after being arraigned on two counts of simple larceny. The self employed defendant who resides at Lot 187 2nd Street, Alberttown, Georgetown appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday morning. His first charge alleged that between March 22, and July 22, 2012 at Georgetown, he stole from Gregory Fraser’s Republic Bank account a sum of $83,800 to which he denied. Clarke also denied the allegation which read that between January 14 and January 25, 2013 at Georgetown, he stole from Shawn Ramsay Fraser account a sum of $83,960. The defendant who was represented by Attorney Adrian Thompson told the court that the matter stemmed from an agreement that his client had with the parties. According to Attorney Thompson, it is a matter of an import and sales of Harris International and that the Police had sent the matter to Director of Public Prosecutions for advice. He noted that his client is not a flight risk and has attended court on his own. The defence council further mentioned that his client was placed on $20,000 station bail. There were no objections to bail. The Magistrate then placed him on $25,000 bail for each offence. The matter will be called again on February 4.
Eyew tness
Ending... A
...for Trotman
few days ago the Stabber carried an interview with a rather wistful Raphael Trotman. Seems he still hasn’t realised he’s been manoeuvred by Ramjattan out of whatever position he ever held in the AFC. He’s yesterday’s news. Like Tom Wolf said so long ago...you can’t ever go back home. Home has changed... and so have you. Ramjattan always resented Trotman’s air of superciliousness and “holier than thou” attitude especially when Trotman made it clear in 2011 that he wouldn’t play second fiddle to Ramjattan. Their Convention that year had to be extended a whole day to sort out the contretemps between the two “mancrabs” vying to occupy the same hole. His resignation after he declared he was a “better candidate” than Ramjattan still rankles with that wanker. Trotman eventually and unconvincingly said it was a still undisclosed “mysterious illness” that caused him to first leave the party. He had to be inveigled back on the withdrawal of Sheila Holder from the Prime Ministerial candidacy - but didn’t campaign much. In the Stabber’s interview, he disconsolately admitted he doesn’t know whether he’ll he asked to be a candidate for the AFC in the upcoming elections. Quite a comedown for a fella who was the co-founder leader of the party!! This Eyewitness would like to assure him that he won’t be asked back. For the simple reason that Ramjattan likes it “too bad” that he can pull rank on every other leader in the present AFC. Oh, how low has the mighty fallen! But Trotman showed a spark of spunk when he openly opposed his old co-leader Ramjattan’s declared vendetta against his former comrades in the PPP/C, were they were to be ousted. In this stance, Trotman follows his hero Forbes Burnham’s policy not to tip his hand before he actually has power. It’s not that Trotman won’t go after those who stood in his way if he could, it’s just that he’ll bide his time. Ramjattan, on the other hand, is driven by blind passion especially hate - and he doesn’t care if he’s telegraphing his hand. Trotman’s true nature peeked out, however, when he maudlinly whined that he was a “victim” of some (unnamed persons) who wanted to “destroy” him. Disclaiming that he wouldn’t “pick a gun and actively go to destroy them,” he unwittingly revealed he’d at least thought about doing that murderous act. There’s a lot of rage in that statement. In the meantime, some would say he’s done a lot to destroy the young man who claimed Trotman sexually molested him when he was a child. It would appear that with Trotman’s court order, the boy was gagged twice!
...and beginning for Ramotar
Well, the other foot’s finally dropped and the PPP/C confirmed what everybody knew all along: President Donald Ramotar’s gonna be their’s party’s standard bearer at the May 11 general elections. So why’d the governing party take so long with the announcement?? Well, you don’t want Pressie to “get stale”, do you?? But seriously, in a world where everything’s ad hoc and “seat-of-the-pants”, the PPP/C believes in following the rules of their game. But what else do you expect from a party that’s 65 years old, this month?? The PPP/C survived so long including 28 years in the wilderness facing persecution by the Burnhamite dictatorship - because they were a disciplined party that had institutionalised its operations. President Ramotar will end one term of office on February 11 (when he dissolves Parliament) and begin his second, on May 12, when the results are declared!
...of Obama’s bad habit
The foreign press, especially its prim and proper British section, were scandalised when Barack Obama was caught on camera chewing gum during his official visit to India. He’d done the same in China and France. Hey, give the guy a break!! He’s trying to quit smoking. It’s nicotine gum!!