Warrant for Dutch woman

This was the second occasion in recent times that Volney reduced bail for someone on a drug charge and that person skipped the country. That other person was Jitman Sookdeo who was granted $5 million bail by Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls in November, 2004. Days later Volney reduced it to $150,000.

Sookdeo, who was one of five persons wanted by the United States for conspiracy to import cocaine into the US in 2001, fled Trinidad last year to avoid extradition. Three of Sookdeo’s co-accused — Ronald Rackal, Hafeez Mohammed, and Indaryartee Dwarika — have been extradited to the US, and the fourth — Ramesh Doon — is awaiting the arrival of US Marshals to escort him to Fort Lauderdale.

They were all arrested with Andre Ravi Persad on January 22, 2001 after the Organised Crime and Narcotics (OCNU) officers reportedly found 542 kilos of cocaine, worth more than $200 million, at a warehouse at Orange Field Road, Freeport.

The matter was called yesterday in the Port-of-Spain High Court with only Doon and Persad appearing, but Sookdeo was absent.

When the name of Dutch national Louisa Marja Jeukens was called at the Port-of-Spain Seventh Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, she was no where to be found.

Jeukens was supposed to appear before Magistrate Halcyon Yorke-Young on a charge of possession of $4 million worth of heroin for the purpose of trafficking.

Jeukens, 36, who lives in Margarita, was at Piarco International Airport on December 16, 2004, about to board BW 900 for London, when she was intercepted by members of the OCNU.

Her luggage was searched and it was reported that the police found $4 million worth of heroin. She was arrested and charged. She made several applications for bail, but all were denied.

On July 29, 2005, she was granted bail in the sum of $1.2 million by Justice Prakash Moosai presiding in the Port-of-Spain High Court. But Jeukens remained in jail as she was unable to secure bail.

Five days later, Jeukens made another application for bail, this time before Volney who reduced the amount to $500,000. Jeukens secured bail and left the Women’s Prison at Arouca. The bail was reduced on the condition that she report to the Gasparillo Police Station between 1 pm and 6 pm on Mondays.

When the matter was called in court on Tuesday, Jeukens was absent. It was discovered that after securing bail, Jeukens left the country. Magistrate Yorke-Young then issued a warrant for her arrest.