Amir Ally, One of the two men charged with attempting to traffic 9.366 kilograms of cocaine in frozen fish to the USA, was this afternoon allowed to lead his defense in the matter.
Ally in a sworn testimony told the court that he cannot read and that he signed several documents at the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) Headquarters without knowing what was written on them.
Ally, 30, of Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara, and canter truck driver, Baldeo Persaud, 32, of 47 Kingston Street, ‘C’ Field Leonora, West Coast Demerara, are jointly charged.
It is alleged that on February 6, 2018, at Laparkan Cargo Shed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), they trafficked 9.366 kilograms of cocaine. They have both pleaded not guilty and remanded to prison. They remain on remand.
This afternoon when the matter was called in the courtroom of Principal Magistrate Leron Daly, Ally went into the witness box from where CANU Prosecutor, Narissa Leander, asked him a series of questions.
Asked by Leander if he had completed primary school, Ally replied in the affirmative.
When asked how he answered the questions on the examination papers, Ally told the court he simply circled anything and did not write anything else on the paper. Ally then went on to tell the court that while in custody at CANU, he signed several documents in cursive. However, when some of those documents were showed to him today, he admitted that the signatures are his, but he denied affixing them there.
The magistrate, after listening to the evidence, adjourned the matter until April 15, 2019 when Ally’s co-accused, Baldeo Persaud, is expected to lead his defense.
According to information, on the day in question, ranks from CANU conducted a search on boxes which had already been packed out at the Cargo Shed at the airport.
During the search, ranks found a quantity of cocaine stashed in frozen fish destined for the USA. An investigation was then carried out and Ally and Persaud were arrested.
Both men are being represented by attorney-at-law Bernard DaSilva.
