Venezuelan freed of $700M ‘coke’ charge

However, Edwin Javier Maraval Rodriguez did not walk out of the court since a detention order was served by the Immigration authorities and he returned to the Port-of-Spain State Prison. The detention order indicated that Rodriguez, a national of Venezuela, overstayed his visit to Trinidad and although he was discharged by the court, he cannot roam freely in Trinidad.

He must await the decision of the Minister of National Security who has to sign the deportation order.

When the matter was called before Magistrate Lianne Lee Kim in the Fourth city court yesterday, a notice of discontinuance was filed by Henderson with respect to Rodriguez on the charge of conspiracy to traffic cocaine.

The DPP took a decision pursuant to the provisions of Section 90 of the Constitution to discontinue all proceedings against Rodriguez. Deputy DPP Roger Gaspard, who is leading the prosecution’s team, told the court the case against Rodriguez was being discontinued.

When the magistrate told the accused he was free to go, a smiling Rodriguez got up and left the dock, but he only reached the prisoners’ cells. Ian Brooks, who represented Rodriguez, commended Gaspard for the decision he took in favour of his client.

The seven other accused men - Victor ‘Hilo’ Sylvester, Ramon Jarvis, Alonzo Valera, Cesar Perreira, Freddie Garcia, Darwin Gonzales and Shaheed Ali - remained in court. Four of the seven accused have no lawyers.

Through interpreter Peter Centeno-Elie, Perriera said he had no money to retain a lawyer. “I was kidnapped and brought here,” the accused told the magistrate. Ali’s lawyer Oscar King was attending High Court during court proceedings yesterday. Magistrate Lee Kim was ready to proceed but Gaspard said that was impossible.

“Having regard that some of the accused are unrepresented and having regard to Mr King’s absence, I think it is prudent not to proceed today,” Gaspard said. The magistrate raised the question of legal aid for the four who are unrepresented but was quick to point out that legal aid does not apply to foreigners. The case was then adjourned to May 15, so the court can fix a day to start the preliminary inquiry.

The eight men were arrested during a police ‘sting’ operation at Monos Island on August 23, 2005. They were later charged with trafficking 1,735 kilos of cocaine valued TT$700 million. They were also charged with possession of arms and ammunition.