Attempts by attorney-at-law Wendel Robinson to have monies belonging to his client, Dane Airall, Jr., and confiscated by the Police have proven futile.
Last week, officers found Airall sleeping in his car, with rolls of various currency strewn around him.
After hearing arguments by Robinson on why the monies should be returned to the man – who has pleaded guilty to drug-related crimes – Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh made an order that the funds be forfeited to the State.
The Court dealt with the matter as a criminal forfeiture – and not a civil one – since the Police had found a quantity of cannabis and drug paraphernalia at Airall’s Golden Grove home during a search.
Walsh had to use the legal standard of “beyond a reasonable doubt” as opposed to “on the balance of probability,” which is the standard for civil procedures of this nature.
Based on the amount of cannabis found – 1.6 kg, along with the drug paraphernalia and a quantity of ammunition – the Chief Magistrate determined that the money had to have had some connection to the drugs.
The Police had to prove that the money had been gotten from illegal gains – which Robinson tried earnestly to refute, claiming that Airall, who is a taxi driver and shop owner, earns quite a substantial sum on a monthly basis.
Airall claims he makes $4,000 driving a taxi and the same amount from a snackette he owns and operates in Grays Farm.
He gave the Police two separate statements related to the money found in his car and the drugs and other items found at his home.
While, reportedly, he appeared to avoid questions about the drugs, Airall did explain that he had the scale to weigh fish after buying them.
Airall was charged on the weekend with possession of cannabis; possession with intent to sell; being concerned in the supplying of cannabis; and unlawful possession of the ammunition – to which he pleaded guilty.
He was fined $40,000 on the drug possession charge and $5,000 on the ammunition charges. The court has given him until December 30 to pay the fines or he will go to prison for 18 months. REAL NEWS
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If you are not a drugs man, don’t walk with drugs…
We do not need criminals to give us Anansi stories. The reason why they go into illicit drugs activities is to make money. Fast Cash. We cannot let criminal enjoy the proceeds of their illicit drugs transactions. Anytime we catch one of these criminals we should confiscate all their assets and sell it by auction. And the funds will go into the Treasury to fight crime. It should be clear to others that crime just doesn’t pay. They need to sell all their personal jewelry on them as well. And the cars they own. Or look to see which assets they are hiding in other people’s names. When young people realize that crime doesn’t pay, they will be less inclined to get into it.
In Antigua doctorates are being given away. Hilary Beckles playing politics. Can remember when great men were getting these doctorates. These days like at independence Sirs and DR’s are freely given away. Andy and Viv yes . Rich should have waited a bit longer.
Why? Why should Sir Ritchie Richardson have to have waited a bit longer? He took over the captaincy of West Indies cricket from Sir I. V. A. Richards. He exemplified courtesy and gentleman ship on the field and off. He gave his heart to Antigua and Barbuda and to West Indies cricket.
I, for one, applaud him receiving his honours whilst he still walks amongst us.
I wait patiently for Sir Curtly Ambrose to get his share of accolades.
The $40,000.00 for the drugs I understand. The $5,000.00 for the ammunition I have a problem with, both on the reporting side as the amount and type of ammunition is not mentioned in the piece, nor if any guns were found. One would assume if one is in possession of rounds of ammunition then one would also likely have the means by which the ammunition would/could be used. If such were found and confiscated, why not include it in the report. If, again, a gun or guns were found are they being tested to see if they may have been used in previous crimes. What? Is that above our competencies? We have been an independent Nation for too long to not have equipped our Police Force with the relative tools and education to be effective at crime solving. $5,000.00 is too low a figure to charge for items that can end a life.
We must not only confiscate monies from”criminals” but also many others: those who used their power to embezzle, those who own businesses and refuse to pay people what they truly earn, those who steal in the name of religion, judges who are paid to do wrong, police who are paid to wrong and the list goes on and on…
$4,000 as a taxidriver??? People need to quit minimum wage jobs and go run taxi 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
At one point drug dealers used to use taxi drivers to make runs for them. Because the police had their eyes only on the drug dealer. Also, because the drug dealers were mainly black, and the taxi drivers were mainly white. It was lucrative business for the taxi drivers. They were paid extra for doing that. And they pretended not to know what it was they were carrying. Just making a delivery. So yes, driving a taxi could sometime become a very lucrative business. But apart from that. Many taxi operators in Antigua have done extremely well. Just look at people like Peewee. Mr. Francis.
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