Subpoena ordered for FedEx officer

Chief Parish Judge Chester Crooks ordered a subpoena for the manager of a local branch of FedEx, after prosecutors said they have been waiting for a year to get a statement to assist with investigations in a drug case.

The defendant in the case, Nicola Burke, was charged in 2021 for being in possession of, dealing in and attempting to export cocaine. When the matter was mentioned in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court last Wednesday, prosecutors said that in order to complete the file for trial, they have been trying to attain a statement from FedEx through which Burke allegedly sent packages containing the prohibited substance.

"We are nevertheless, Your Honour, making efforts to get the statement," the prosecutor informed the court.

When asked by the judge what is the particular challenge, the prosecutor explained there was reluctance by FedEx to attend court and give a statement.

The judge was not amused.

"If they want to be known as a courier company that facilitates the transshipment of drugs, in other words persons are using their services to ship drugs, and when they are asked to come to court, they refuse, well fine, so be it. You have a communications arm, use it. If they don't want to cooperate, put it on the record why they don't want to cooperate. I'm sure their international headquarters would be very happy to hear that in Jamaica, a branch is facilitating it," the judge chided.

The prosecutor then asked that a subpoena be ordered for the manager of the Corporate Area branch where the offence allegedly occurred.

"If he is served and refuses to attend, then, all the consequences will follow from that," Crooks instructed.

The matter is to be mentioned on June 20. - T.T.