Pretrial conference in Dudus case Monday

Lawyers representing former west Kingston strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke and American prosecutors are slated to meet in court on Monday for a pre-trial conference.

Coke is not expected to attend the conference set to begin at 4 p.m. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

However, the prosecutors are scheduled to give lawyers representing Coke additional discovery to allow them time to explore any possible motion.

Coke, the former leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP)-controlled enclave of Tivoli Gardens, has been in custody in the US since last year when he was charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana and cocaine, and conspiracy to traffic in firearms illegally.

If convicted on the narcotics charges, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, as well as a fine of up to US$4 million.

If convicted on the firearms-trafficking charges, Coke faces a maximum five-year prison sentence.

Coke was extradited to the US after an almost yearlong wrangle between Jamaican and American authorities over the legality of wiretap evidence to be used against him.

After the protracted dispute, the Jamaican Government signed the extradition request, leading to a bloody gun battle as members of the security forces moved into west Kingston to arrest Coke.

He escaped that dragnet but was held one month later, reportedly heading to the US Embassy to turn himself in to American authorities.

The reputed drug kingpin waived his right to challenge his extradition request and was taken out of the country days after he was held.