Busy day in court for AG

Though the courts are currently on vacation, proceedings in which the Attorney General plays a key role came up at both the High Court and at the Magistrates Court.

The Attorney General spent several hours at the High Court asking Justice Eleanor Donaldson- Honeywell to approve applications to have a list of about half-a-dozen entities declared as terrorist organisations under anti-terrorism law.

All of the ex parte applications were granted by the judge.

As a result, the organisations will be published in the Gazette in coming days.

The State’s anti-terror mechanisms will now kick in. Mere hours earlier, another matter involving the Attorney General came up at the Port-of-Spain Eight Court before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar.

The Magistrate heard ongoing extradition proceedings against Eduardo Gregario Azocar, 45, a Venezuelan national wanted by US authorities in relation to charges that he sought, while in this country, to traffic cocaine and heroin into the US.

Attorneys for the Central Authority, led by Graeme Mc- Clean, submitted an authority to proceed document signed by Al-Rawi in relation to the matter.

The Attorney General had reviewed the matter the day before and signed the document.

Also appearing in court, on behalf of the US, were attorneys Pamela Elder SC and Netram Kowlessar. According to officials, the Venezuelan was arrested on June 16, during a sting operation near Tenth Avenue, Barataria.

The authority to proceed document references six counts, namely: attempting to traffic a dangerous drug; conspiracy to traffic a dangerous drug, namely cocaine; trafficking in a dangerous drug, namely cocaine; trafficking in a dangerous drugs, namely cocaine and trafficking in a dangerous drug, namely heroin.

The Venezuelan, who was represented by attorney Keith Scotland, is also on local charges.

These include trafficking in hashish (cannabis sativa) and conspiracy to traffic heroin.

The Attorney General’s document will now be reviewed by the court. The matter was adjourned to October 5.