Drug trial aborted

THE COCAINE trafficking trial of Icacos fisherman Baldath Samaroo was aborted Friday in the San Fernando Assizes.

After two days of trial in the First Criminal Court, which presiding judge Justice Paula Mae Weekes said was “beset with a number of difficulties,” the case was set for retrial next month. Samaroo, 39, aka “Log,” is accused of having in his possession 25.9 kilogrammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. The charge alleges that on July 24, 1996, members of the Organised Crime and Narcotics Unit saw Samaroo on the Couva/Preysal flyover dropping off three feed bags, containing 53 packets of cocaine, on the roadside. Samaroo was arrested two days later for the alleged offence.

Only one prosecution witness — OCNU Inspector Bullen — had testified before the nine-member mixed jury when Justice Weeks brought the trial to an abrupt end. State attorney Brahmanan Dubay led the prosecution’s case while attorneys Prakash Ramadhar, Ravi Rajkumar and Brian Dabideen defended Samaroo. Justice Weekes set the matter for retrial on December 1 in the Second Criminal Assizes.