Trini freed from London jail

THE 19-year-old son of a restaurant proprietor who was one of two persons charged in March with conspiracy to import cocaine in the United Kingdom, has been released from prison and sent back to Trinidad. The prosecution in the United Kingdom offered no evidence against Peter Laquis. But they are pursuing the case of 26-year-old Raymond Habib who goes on trial on August 16 at the Islesworth Crown Court in Middlesex, not too far from Heathrow International Airport.

Laquis and Habib had travelled to London together on BW 900 flight on March 22. Shortly after their arrival in London, Customs officials at Heathrow intercepted both Laquis and Habib and after conducting a search of their luggage, allegedly found two kilos of cocaine. Both men were arrested and charged with conspiracy to import cocaine into the United Kingdom. An application for bail was made for both men when they appeared before a Lay Magistrate at the Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court near to Heathrow Airport in March and again in April. The magistrate turned down the applications and ordered that both Trinidadians be detained in custody pending their trial. Laquis and Habib were detained at the Feltham Remand Centre in Middlesex as the prosecution moved to ensure a speedy trial using the paper committal route.

However, in reviewing their files, the prosecution realised that they had no evidence against Laquis. They found out that although Laquis had travelled with Habib, there was no evidence to suggest that he had the cocaine. Despite forensic tests carried out on Laquis’ luggage, nothing was found to incriminate the teenager. As a result, prison officials served Laquis with a notice of discontinuance at the Feltham Remand Centre. The conspiracy to import cocaine charge was dropped and Laquis was sent back to Trinidad on the next available BWIA flight. Newsday learnt that Laquis returned home earlier this month and settled back down in his family business. Efforts to contact the teenager proved unsuccessful. However, the prosecution has decided to move ahead with the trial of the second Trinidadian, Habib.

The trial is fixed for August 16 and is expected to last no longer than two days. The prosecution will depend on the testimony of the Customs officer who effected the arrest at Heathrow International Airport along with the forensic evidence. Then, it will be the turn of the accused to tell his side of the story before the lawyers address the jury. Habib will be represented at the trial by Tom Kharran, a Guyanese-born attorney practising in London. The arrests of the Trinidadians were part of a large police operation in England, which has been on high alert for terrorist activities. The British authorities have placed special emphasis on flights from the Carribean arriving at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.