The boat captain who was the master of the ill-fated motor vessel ‘Sea Hauler’ on August 2, “single-handedly” corrupted and controlled with “apparent ease” sections of the police, immigration, customs and air traffic controller to carry out illegal drug activities, according to a court ruling.
Captain Allan Russell Sr. was committed Wednesday to three years in prison and fined $100,000 for what Appeals Court Justice Maurice Churaman called a “gigantic criminal enterprise” that netted him a staggering sum of $1 million from cocaine proceeds.
If the 63-year-old is unable to pay the fine, he will be sentenced to an additional two years in prison.
The drug running occurred between February 1984 and July 1985.
Justice Churaman said in a ruling that to accede either to quashing the convictions or interfering with the sentences would be a red-letter day for the drug barons.
Captain Russell was initially charged in 1989 along with his accomplice, Rudolph Hart, with conspiracy to import dangerous drugs, conspiracy to possess dangerous drugs and to supply cocaine, and convicted on the August 23, 1990.
A judge dismissed his appeal, which was heard in the Supreme Court in 1996. Mr. Russell’s second appeal, which was heard in the Court of Appeal in November, was again dismissed on Wednesday.
“Delay or no delay it would be an affront to the notions of justice and a shock to the senses of right-thinking persons within our society, if this court were either to quash these convictions or indeed reduce the sentences of imprisonment imposed by the learned magistrate,” Justice Churaman said.
He added that while both appellants were out on bail and the matter was under review, neither has shown any justification to abate the sentence imposed, therefore, each must serve his sentence in “undiluted form.”
Captain Russell was expected to be a key witness in the public inquiry into the August 2nd boating accident involving the Sea Hauler and the United Star, which killed four persons and injured about 25 others.
Mr. Hart, 50, was sentenced to one year in prison and fined $50,000. If he is unable to pay that fine, he would spend an additional year behind bars.
Representing the accused were Philip Davis, assisted by Prince Bonamy and Stacy Smith. Prosecuting the matter was Gavin Gaskin.
By Hadassah Hall, The Bahama Journal
