Officials bar Boodhai from entering UK

BISSOON BOODHAI, one of the three persons charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine in a diplomatic pouch, was refused entry into the United Kingdom on Friday. He had gone there to spend Christmas with his wife and three children. The British immigration department kept Boodhai in a room until he was sent packing back to Trinidad on the next available flight Saturday. Boodhai, 47, who enjoyed diplomatic status at the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission in London, is charged with Micah Smith and Kurt Alexis with conspiracy to traffic cocaine in a pouch belonging to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is alleged that during the period November 30 2003 and May 8 2004, in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and elsewhere, the three accused conspired together to traffic cocaine. Smith and Alexis are also charged with trafficking cocaine. The case was last called on November 16 when State attorney Marissa Gomez responded to legal submissions raised by Boodhai’s attorney Rangee Dolsingh SC.

The case was then adjourned to January 15 when Senior Magistrate Lianne Lee Kim will give her decision on the submissions. When Boodhai was recalled from the TT High Commission last June, his diplomatic passport was confiscated by the police and returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, Boodhai remained in possession of his TT passport. When he was recalled to Trinidad, he left his wife and children behind. Realising that his case was put off to next month and that he was not barred from leaving Trinidad, Boodhai decided to spend Christmas in London with his family. This was confirmed by Dolsingh when contacted by Newsday yesterday. Boodhai left Trinidad on Thursday evening on BW 900 for Heathrow. On arrival, Boodhai was questioned routinely by Immigration officials. It was during questioning that Boodhai informed the British officials that he was on leave, and has a charge against him pending in Trinidad.

He also informed the officials he was in England to spend Christmas with his family and he had worked in London with the TT High Commission. Boodhai was not allowed entry and put in a room, or holding bay, while immigration officials checked on his status. It was eventually determined hours later that there was nothing pending against Boodhai in England, but in light of the charge in Trinidad, they preferred that he return to Trinidad. Boodhai was kept in the same room until the next BWIA flight on Saturday. Yesterday, Dolsingh confirmed what had happened to Boodhai. He said he was kept by immigration officials and there was no police involvement. Dolsingh said there was nothing to prevent Boodhai from leaving TT. He had hoped to spend Christmas with his family, whom he had not seen in six months.