Now daughter,12, in court in full Muslim wear

ONE WEEK after her mother was deemed a “security risk” and prevented from entering a courtroom because she was dressed in full Muslim garb, the 12-year-old girl jointly charged with four adults for trafficking a quantity of narcotics, and possession of an arsenal of weapons, turned up for her court hearing yesterday clothed in similar wear. The young accused wore full length garments with hijab, but did not have her face covered as her mother did, and was allowed entrance into the Siparia Magistrates’ First Court. However, the girl’s mother, Tammy McLeod, was again dressed in “full parda,” or clothed in full length garments from her head to her feet, except for a slit for her eyes. McLeod did not attempt to enter the courtroom for her daughter’s appearance before the magistrate. Instead, she waited outside the court while her daughter stood with the four co-accused.

Last week Magistrate David ordered McLeod out of the courtroom, saying, “You can see me, but I can’t see you.” The young accused was released into the custody of her mother as granted in an application before a judge in chambers two weeks ago. She is jointly charged with Martin Noreiga Bain, 34, of Aripero Village; his common-law wife Erica Rondon, 30; her mother, Beatrice Rondon, 55; and sister Adrianna Rondon, 18. The latter three accused are Venezuelan nationals.  Attorney Mario Merrit yesterday made fresh arguments for bail for the four accused, who have been denied bail since their arrests last month. Merrit submitted that although three of the accused were Venezuelan nationals it was not a reason to brand them as “flight risks,” and therefore deny bail.  The attorney also submitted that the eldest accused had been hospitalised for heart complications on two occasions since being in custody.

However, the magistrate again denied bail and advised the accused of their right to apply for bail before a judge in chambers.  The magistrate ordered the young accused to return to court on October 25, and the others on August 13.  The five were arrested by members of the Firearms and Interdiction Unit (FIU), headed by Snr Supt Errol Dillon, during a raid at a house at Cipero Village, Rousillac, on July 21. The FIU allegedly seized in the raid: Mac 1, Mac 10, and Mac 11, machine-guns, three nine-millimetre and two .380 pistols, a hand grenade, 347 rounds of ammunition with 7.62 millimetre, nine millimetre and .45 calibre, two AK-47 magazines; 11.2 kilogrammes of cocaine valued $3 million; 600 grammes of marijuana worth $50,000; and a bulletproof vest marked “Police.”