By Alric Lindsay
Kimani Livingston Bonnick, Corey Nikito Brown, Leon Neil Harvey and Barry Zair McCarthy appeared in the Grand Court today, December 17, 2024, to face an allegation of illicit trafficking of 476.47 pounds (216.09 kilograms) of ganja. They pleaded “not guilty” to the allegations
Details of allegation
As explained in the Grand Court, it was alleged that on September 20, 2024, on a ship not registered in any country or territory and located about 55 nautical miles east-southeast of Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, the four men had the above ganja in their possession knowing or having reasonable grounds to suspect that the drug was intended to be imported into the Cayman Islands.
Regarding the foregoing, Brown and Harvey elected to be tried by judge alone, while Bonnick elected a jury trial.
Next steps
It was noted that the trial date will be March 24, 2025.
Bonnick, Brown, and Harvey will be remanded in custody until trial, while McCarthy’s bail will be extended until the trial date.
Note to readers
The offence of illicit trafficking is covered by section 19 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. This states:
Ships used for illicit traffic
19. (1) This section applies to (a) a Cayman ship;
(b) a ship registered in a state other than the Islands which is a party to the Vienna Convention; and (c) a ship that is not registered in any country or territory.
(2) A person on a ship to which this section applies, wherever it may be who (a) has a controlled drug in his possession; or (b) is knowingly concerned in the carrying or concealing of a controlled drug on the ship, knowing or having reasonable grounds to suspect that the drug is intended to be imported or has been exported contrary to section 3(1) or the law of any state other than the Islands commits an offence and is liable (i) if the controlled drug is a hard drug — (A) on summary conviction to a fine of twenty thousand dollars and to imprisonment for five years; or (B) on conviction on indictment to a fine and to imprisonment for life; or (ii) if the controlled drug is not a hard drug (A) on summary conviction to a fine of ten thousand dollars and to imprisonment for two years; or (B) on conviction on indictment to a fine and to imprisonment for fourteen years.
(3) A certificate purporting to be issued by or on behalf of the government of a state to the effect that the import or export of a controlled drug is prohibited by the law of that state is evidence of the matter stated.
