Bail extended for brothers in ganja case

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court has issued subpoenas for five prosecution witnesses to be present at court on June 4 in order to give testimony in relation to a 2,000-pound ganja case dating back to 2011.

Brothers Arnold and Omari Gayle of Catherine Hall in Montego Bay, who are charged for possession of and dealing in ganja, had their bails extended when they appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Allegations are that on July 5, 2011, a police team acting on information went to a house in Irwin, St James, where the ganja was found along with four global positioning system units and $180,000. The brothers, who were present at the house, were subsequently arrested and charged.

In court, the prosecution asked Resident Magistrate Carolyn Tai for time to get their witnesses together as none of them were present when the case was brought up for mention.

"The Crown is constrained to ask for more time as our witnesses are absent. I am advised that the investigating officer is on vacation leave and has suffered an injury during his vacation," said Clerk of the Court Orrett Brown.

"How many witnesses are in the matter?" asked RM Tai.

"We have five witnesses involved. This is the second trial date, and they were supposed to be subpoenaed for this date. The subpoenas were issued on January 9, however, I have no returns on the file," added Brown.

"You are both to return here on June 4. Your bails are extended, and the court subpoenas all the witnesses," RM Tai informed the Gayle brothers.