In a tension-filled courtroom on Monday, Samuel “90” Knowles learned in less than 15 minutes that he would be extradited to the United States to face drug charges.
Magistrate Carolita Bethel of the drug court said in her ruling that “the court hereby commits Knowles to the custody of the Superintendent of the Prison.”
To Knowles she said, “You will not be extradited for the next 15 days and you have the right to review my decision by way of habeas corpus or judicial review in the Supreme Court.”
On hearing the magistrate’s decision, Knowles showed no outward sign of emotion, but as he listened to the ruling being read, he shifted between sitting erect and sitting slightly bent over with his elbows on his knees.
Security around the court was extremely tight as anyone entering the court had to be undergo two separate searches. Curious onlookers were forced to remain at Bay Street as Strike Force and other heavily-armed police officers cordoned off the area.
This reporter was denied access to the court because of having a tape recorder. The officer who denied access said that he was instructed by the magistrate not to allow anyone with electronic recording items into the court.
The batteries in the tape recorder had to be removed before access to the court was allowed.
About nine police officers in the room stood in total silence as Magistrate Bethel read her ruling.
Magistrate Bethel ruled that a case had been made against Knowles with respect to the charges of conspiracy to possess and conspiracy to import dangerous drugs, namely cocaine.
She said that in his defence, Knowles did not testify or give a statement. The attorneys’ defence focused on casting doubt on the reliability of the three main witnesses, Brian Bethel, William Stuart and Benjamin Rolle, she summarized.
The arguments raised by Queen’s Counsel for Knowles, Edward Fitzgerald, were that the three witnesses had an interest to serve by receiving reduced sentences, and that the trio were accomplices and that their evidence on the whole was worthless.
She also discussed information from the defence of drugs being loaded onto an Apache boat, the property of Rolle for the purpose of drug smuggling. Mention was also made of a Phantom boat, also owned by Rolle.
The magistrate said that attached to information received from the defence was an illegible customs receipt, which only showed the date when the boat was registered.
Magistrate Bethel said that the court could not draw the inferences which the defence wanted. Further she said, it was known by the court that boats used in criminal activity are not registered, and there was no evidence deduced to say that the boats were the same boats (Apache and Phantom) alleged to have been registered.
“This is not a trial,” the magistrate said, in respect to the evidence raised with regard to the familiarity of the men.
She said also that the evidence before the court showed that all persons mentioned are convicted drug smugglers and parties involved in a drug smuggling enterprise.
She said it was not for the court to determine whether the witnesses were telling the truth, but for a jury to decide.
Magistrate Bethel said that the court was satisfied that the evidence was sufficient to justify a committal for extradition on the mentioned charges.
Moreover, she said, she was satisfied that Knowles was not being sought for offences of a political nature or for an offence under military law. She was further satisfied that Knowles would not be denied a fair trial by reason of race, nationality, religion or political opinions. She was also satisfied that the offences were not statute-barred in the requesting state.
Additionally, she said, she was satisfied that his extradition is not prohibited by any law in force in The Bahamas.
As she concluded her ruling, Magistrate Bethel informed Knowles of his right to review the decision.
A short time later one could hear chains rattle as Knowles was being readied to leave the court before he donned his signature shades.
A defiant Knowles chewed gum during the entire proceeding despite the rule, “no gum chewing in court.”
Attorney for Knowles, Roger Minnis was present. Francis Cumberbatch and Neil Braithwaite represented the requesting state.
By Jimenita Swain, The Nassau Guardian
