Four men freed of cocaine trafficking charges

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:Charges of allegedly transporting cocaine in a motor car against four St James men, arrested last June, were dismissed on Monday.

Fifty-four-year-old bus driver, Robert Davis, of a Providence Heights address; 41-year-old bus driver, Howard Scott, of Irwin; 38-year-old Omar Scott, of John's Hall; and 52-year-old vendor, Norman Griffiths, also of John's Hall, were previously charged with possession of and trafficking in cocaine. However, a no-evidence motion was entered for them after the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court was told that the investigating officer had resigned.

acting on information

It was alleged that on June 7, 2013, a police team acting on information, followed two motor cars along the Providence main road heading towards Ironshore. The cars were eventually intercepted and searched and a plastic bag containing five pounds of cocaine was found on the back passenger seat in one of the vehicles. The four men who were in the cars were subsequently arrested.

"The investigating officer in this matter has resigned from the Jamaica Constabulary Force," clerk of the court Paula-Sue Ferguson told Resident Magistrate (RM) Wilson Smith, on Monday.

"Will we be able to proceed?" asked RM Smith.

"No, your honour, I will not be able to proceed without the officer," said Ferguson.

RM Smith then told the four defendants that the court would not proceed any further against them.

"It seems to me you have come upon your lucky day. Under the circumstances, the prosecution is offering no evidence against you ... you are dismissed," the magistrate told the men.