Canadian denies importing $1.7m worth of drugs
A Canadian woman has denied importing more than $1.7 million worth of drugs into Bermuda on a flight from Toronto.Janet Grant, 47, from Scarborough, Ontario, is alleged to have brought in heroin, cocaine and cannabis on October 21.She is also accused of possessing heroin and cocaine with intent to supply.According to court documents, the heroin was valued at $1.4 million and the cocaine at $370,000. The documents do not list a value for the cannabis.Ms Grant was arrested when the drugs were allegedly found in her hand luggage after she arrived at LF Wade International Airport on a WestJet flight.She pleaded not guilty to all the charges when she appeared at the monthly Supreme Court arraignments session yesterday.Chief Justice Richard Ground remanded her into custody. A trial date will be set at next month’s session.Also appearing before the Chief Justice were David and Antoinette Bolden, who got a trial date listed for fraud charges they’ve been facing since March 2009.The husband and wife, who ran the company Emerald Financial Capital, face 24 charges of stealing and money laundering over funds allegedly taken from the company between May 2007 and January 2009.They are further alleged to have issued misleading documents, and filed information to the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) that was false and misleading between September 20 and October 20, 2008.They deny the allegations, but their trial has been repeatedly delayed due to their inability to secure legal representation.Saul Froomkin QC now represents them, and their trial was fixed for May 9. They were granted bail until then.Another trial date was confirmed in the case of Jermaine Pearman.He is accused of the premeditated murder of 23-year-old prison officer Shakeya DeRoza, the mother of his two young children.Ms DeRoza collapsed and died in front of Rose’s Flower Shop in Middle Road, Sandys, after succumbing to multiple injuries sustained on July 10, 2009.In addition to the murder charge, Pearman is further accused of possessing a knife with a seven-inch blade on the Railway Trail in Sandys, where he was apprehended.He denies the charges, which he has been facing since July 2009, but has also experienced difficulties in securing a lawyer.He is now represented by Craig Attridge, and his trial was yesterday confirmed for January 24. He was remanded into custody until then.A trial date was also fixed in the case of Kyle Ingham, who’s accused of involvement in importing more than $850,000 worth of cannabis.He denies participating in the plot and will stand trial on April 4. He was remanded into custody until then.
