Billionaire investor granted bail, left St. Kitts

A Greek billionaire and heir to the Coca-Cola fortune is reported to have left St. Kitts on Tuesday night after he was released on EC$300,000 bail after making an appearance in court following his arrest on drug related charges last Thursday.

A police statement said that Alkiviades “Alki” David, 50, was granted bail after being charged for possession of controlled drugs, possession with intent to supply and importation of a controlled drug into the Federation.

The media had been barred from covering the court case on Tuesday and the police statement said that the offences were committed on May 7 at the RLB International Airport.

“David’s previous bail conditions were revoked, and he was granted bail under new conditions. The new conditions were a cash bail of EC$300,000 and EC$600,000 with two sureties for his appearance at the Basseterre Magistrate Court on Monday, September 23rd, 2019,” the police statement added.

Radio reports said that David left the country on Tuesday night on board his private jet.

David was arrested by the Anti-Narcotics Unit at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport after a search of his private jet uncovered more than EC$1.3 million worth of cannabis on board.

During a news conference on Monday, David claimed the plants on board his private aircraft were “all hemp” and were intended for a new venture to start a legal cannabis business in the region.

He and Chase Ergen, the heir to a satellite fortune, announced in April that they formed a consortium aimed at developing the cannabis business in St. Kitts-Nevis, Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda.