Attorney questions police seizure

A defence attorney is questioning the amount of money allegedly seized by police from his client's premises in an operation in May.

Donovan Collins is defending Allan Jacobs, who is charged with drug offences after cocaine weighing 4.57 ounces, and a bag containing cash totalling $1,058,300 and US$65 (approximately $10,000) were found at a premises he occupied.

Collins told the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Monday that, "Your Honour, we are not denying that money was found, but we are denying the amount. It was much more than that.

"Your Honour, my client strongly denies all allegations against him. I think a trial will be interesting," Collins submitted. Collins attempted to make a bail application but it could not be heard as the criminal records requested by Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque on August 3, were not available.

"Your Honour, he has been in custody since May and he is elderly," the attorney urged.

However, the senior jurist stood by her decision to have Jacobs' antecedents present in court before hearing a bail application.

"For my purposes, I want to see his records," she said. At Jacobs' previous court appearance, he stated that he had no previous convictions, but the investigator refuted this. It was then that Jacobs confessed that he was convicted seven years ago for possession of cocaine and was sentenced to counselling with the Drug Treatment Court. It was on that basis Judge Cole-Montaque requested that police take his fingerprints and his criminal records be presented.

Allegations are that on May 23, lawmen carried out a special operation at the premises occupied by Jacobs. The search resulted in the seizure of the cocaine and cash.

When cautioned, Jacobs allegedly said, "Offica, a hustle me a hustle, a cocaine me sell, me a nuh bad man. Me nuh go bank, a me likkle hustling money from cocaine me save."

Judge Cole-Montaque had the matter adjourned until October 9 for mention, when it is expected that a bail application will be heard. Jacobs was remanded in custody.

- T.T.