Chadee freed of drug charge

A JURY deliberated for just half an hour yesterday, before returning with not-guilty verdicts for Henry Chadee and his daughter, Denese, both of whom were charged with possession of cocaine. Henry Chadee, 58, and Denese, 24, both of Piparo, were all smiles as they left the Second Criminal Assizes of the San Fernando High Court with their defence attorney Prakash Ramadhar. The prosecution’s case was that on May 7, 1999, members of the Organised Crime and Narcotics Unit (OCNU), led by Sgt Baldeo Nanan, found over one kilo of cocaine at Chadee’s house at Pascal Road, Piparo. Chadee, his daughter Denese and wife Dolly, were subsequently arrested and charged with cocaine trafficking. Dolly Chadee passed away before the matter could be brought to trial. Father and daughter maintained their innocence during the trial and Henry Chadee insisted he was set up by police. The State’s case was led by attorney Althea Alexis. The case was heard before Justice Alice Yorke-Soo Hon.