Brothers before Court on Cocaine and Marijuana Charges

By Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Reporter

#TurksandCaicos, June 19, 2023 – Magnetic Media reporting from the Hon Chief Magistrate Mr. Jolyon Hatmin’s court at Old Airport Road in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.

Amongst the many matters that were called on Tuesday 13th June, 2023 was that of two young brothers GIVESON AND GIBERSON MARC for possession of cocaine and marijuana and they are charged with two counts of intent to supply the same.

Both were represented by Ashwood Forbes, Senior Counsel and for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions was Tassja Mitchell.

The matter was listed to be tried but Crown public prosecutor Mitchell told the court that she’s seeking an adjournment as the officer that took the drugs to be tested overseas for clarification and confirmation that it is marijuana and cocaine has not yet received the certificate which is key to the charges in the case.

The laboratory has not completed those examinations and no statement has been prepared regarding the findings of the overseas test.

Attorney Ashwood Forbes immediately rose to his feet and expressed to the court that the defense is willing to proceed without that overseas certificate of the examination findings because in his over 15 years in law practice and dealing with many drugs matters, not once has he ever seen a certificate returning and stating it was not marijuana but instead some old plant out of the North Caicos, (the entire court laughed including the learned Chief Magistrate).

The trial was pushed to an early date to commence on July 20th, 2023.

The young men, through their attorney Forbes, complained about how since their arrest late last year (2022) police took and confiscated their iPhone and a Samsung Galaxy cell phone.

Mr. Forbes made an application to the Chief Magistrate for the return of the two phones and it was so ordered that the defendants be given both phones by Thursday June 15th 2023 by or before 4:00 p.m.

The two brothers then complained about a Rolex that the police took and the public prosecutor Ms. Mitchell hearing this, immediately jokingly said “a Mercedes-Benz as well now too eh?”

There was no order given regarding the Rolex watch, as it was established that it was confiscated in relation to another investigation and not the matter before the court presently.

Bail was extended to both the accused to the adjourned trial date.