Mom cries to get bail but magistrate says no

Magistrate Siemungal Ramsaran made the disclosure yesterday in the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court, when he refused to lower the bail of $1.5 million for mother of two, Seema Ramlochan. She reappeared yesterday on the May 8, 2013 charge slapped on her allegedly for attempting to export 0.88 grammes of cocaine via a FedEx package at St James Street, San Fernando.

Ramlochan, 31, has been unable to secure bail since she first appeared in May and as a result, has been incarcerated at the women’s prison. Two magistrates, Senior Magistrate Indra Ramoo-Haynes and Rae Roopchan, before whom Ramlochan had appeared previously, have refused to reduce the bail which requires Clerk of the Peace approval.

Yesterday, Ramlochan was escorted before Ramsaran for the hearing and immediately she began to cry and wipe her cheeks. Pleading for the magistrate to reduce the bail sum, Ramlochan sobbed continuously and said, “Your Honour, my house burn down. Kamla help me to get a house and Jack Warner give me a job. I trying to catch myself. People who you could trust...I was coming from church when they ask me to do this for them. I’m innocent.”

But Ramsaran was not convinced, telling Ramlochan that high bail sums are set in order to ensure that persons charged with serious crimes come to court for the trial. “In my court alone (second Police Court), there is $5 million in bail sums outstanding because the persons cannot come to court. I cannot disagree with the previous magistrates in the bail sum they imposed. It is in keeping with what is the norm — the charge is for attempting to export cocaine in the pages of a book. What I can do is ask the prosecutor to expedite the analysing of the exhibit to facilitate an early trial of your matter, but I cannot reduce the bail.”

The magistrate advised Ramlochan that she has the right to apply to a judge in Chambers for bail. The matter was postponed to October 28.