TT rugby star agrees to go to US:

WANTED by the United States for conspiracy to traffic cocaine, Trinidad and Tobago national rugby winger Mark Kurt Hamilton yesterday agreed to go to New York to face a four-count Grand Jury indictment.

But Hamilton made it quite clear yesterday: “I have nothing to hide.”

Hamilton, 27, was arrested at his home at Nadine Street, Gasparillo, on Wednesday on a provisional warrant for his extradition to the United States.

Yesterday, Hamilton appeared before Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court to answer the warrant. Attorney Dave Williams represented Hamilton, while David West, of the Attorney General’s office, appeared for the US Government.

Williams said his client was consenting to the extradition as he has nothing to hide. Hamilton went into the witness box and said he was the coach for the Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football Union.

He also admitted that he is a member of the TT national rugby team, having represented the country more than 25 times.

Hamilton said he was aware of the charges and he agreed to go to the United States to face the charges. “I was not forced to arrive at this position. I willingly agreed. There were no threats, or promises made to me. I have nothing to hide. I am willing to go before the United States authorities and answer all charges,” Hamilton said.

Mc Nicolls then made the order for Hamilton to be extradited to New York, where the charges were laid. In an unusual step, attorney Williams then applied for bail for his client. He said it would be foolish for Hamilton to abscond if granted bail, because he had already consented to go to the United States. He added that his client has represented TT for the past ten years in rugby.

“He may have made mistakes in the past. He intends to demonstrate this when he gets into the United States,” Williams added.

Williams said Hamilton was very much involved in youth development projects in his community. If granted bail, Hamilton would get the opportunity to be with his family. His parents were present in court yesterday.

Williams sought bail for his client with conditions attached.

But West objected to bail. He said if convicted in the US, Hamilton can be sentenced to 40 years imprisonment on each count. “Having regard to Trinidad and Tobago’s international extradition treaty obligations, we have a duty to surrender such persons. If he were to flee while the extradition matter was pending, it would cause severe embarrassment to this country.”

West said it was a sad day in TT when a national player finds himself facing the courts.

Mc Nicolls felt that if Hamilton is granted bail, the temptation to flee would be great, knowing what sentence awaits him in the US. The application for bail was then refused.

Hamilton was charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine; conspiracy to possess cocaine; possession of cocaine and trafficking a dangerous drug, namely cocaine. The offences were alleged to have occurred in New York.