Mom of three acquitted of cocaine charges

Melinda Kadoo, 43, of Cantaro Village, Santa Cruz, was before Justice Maria Wilson in the Portof- Spain High Court charged with possession of the cocaine which was allegedly found by police on February 7, 2005, hidden in a can.

It took a nine-member jury sitting in the Port-of-Spain High Court almost two hours to return with the not guilty verdict for Kadoo. State prosecutor Veona Neal-Munroe led evidence that on February 7, 2005, police executed a search warrant at Kadoo’s home.

In their testimony, the officers said while searching the room they found the cocaine in the can.

Kadoo and two men who were in the house at the time were arrested and charged, however the two men were discharged at the Magistrates’ court during the preliminary inquiry.

Kadoo testified in her defence that the drugs were not found in her presence during the search and were planted by police.

In an interview after walking out of the Hall of Justice in Portof- Spain, Kadoo again maintained that she was innocent and said she was happy the matter was finally over as the allegation caused her and her family distress and embarrassment.

“I was not worried. I pray a lot and I know God answered my prayers,” she said. “It was hard for me and my children but we made it through it,” Kadoo she added.