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BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Nov 17 2015 – A Jamaican man who denied three drug charges a month ago before Magistrate Douglas Frederick, confessed to them when he returned to court on Monday.
Neil Alexander Churchill Bennett, of Westgate Hill, Montego Bay, St James, Jamaica, had pleaded not guilty to the October 16 offences of having cocaine, trafficking and intent to supply 2.15 kilogrammes of the substance.
The 47-year-old financial consultant went before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant at the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court where she fined him $15,000 with a three-year concurrent prison term alternative on each count of possession and trafficking. He was convicted, reprimanded and discharged on the intent to supply charge.
The fines were not paid.
Bennett was represented by attorney-at-law Kristen Turton. She submitted that her client was a businessman who did not put the court through the cost of a trial but pleaded guilty early. She also said the father of three regretted the position that he found himself in and the position he had put Barbados in.
According to Sergeant Janice Ifill, after police received certain information, they went to the Christ Church hotel where Bennett was staying. A suitcase with a false bottom containing 2.15 kilogrammes of cocaine was found in his room. (Barbados TODAY)
