Trial for St James men arrested in 2010 on drug charges to start in April

WESTERN BUREAU:Two St James men who were arrested in 2010 in connection with a drug-smuggling operation between Jamaica and Canada were given a new trial date when they appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Vincent Saddler, who is charged with conspiracy to export ganja, and Donovan Clarke, who is charged with possession of and dealing in cocaine and conspiracy to export ganja, had their bails extended until April 14 as the lead prosecutor from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was unavailable to start the trial on Monday.

It is alleged that on December 1, 2010, Saddler, a former police sergeant, and Clarke, who was employed to the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, were arrested during an operation by investigators from the Anti-Corruption Branch in relation to alleged narcotics trafficking between the Sangster International Airport and the Lester B. Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Canada. Nine alleged co-conspirators were also arrested in Canada as a result of the same operation.

On Monday, Clerk of the Court, Natalie Malcolm told presiding magistrate Carolyn Tie that she had not been given any instructions as to how the case was to proceed, although the trial had been slated to begin that day.

"This is a matter that the director's office (DPP) had conduct of (will prosecute directly), ... but I have been told nothing further of this matter for today," said Malcolm.

"Do you know if discussion had been made between the defence counsel and the prosecutor?" asked Tie.

"Maxine Jackson (the DPP prosecutor) is engaged in the Home Circuit Court. I think some discussion had been made," attorney-at-law Leonard Green, who represented Saddler and Clarke, interjected.

The case was subsequently set for trial on April 14.

- Christopher Thomas