Bermuda has issued an arrest warrant for Jamaican Andrew Hall, who left the Island last month after a charge of importing $1.8 million of heroin was dropped.

Police confirmed this week that the Chief Justice Austin Ward had issued a warrant for Mr. Hall, who returned to Jamaica after Assistant Justice Archibald Warner dropped the charges against him on January 26. Mr. Justice Warner ruled the 39-year-old could not be prosecuted because his rights had been violated due to the fact he had been held without trial for almost three years.

Mr. Ratneser is appealing the decision to quash Mr. Hall's charges, and yesterday Police confirmed that an arrest warrant had been issued by the Chief Justice for the acquitted man.

It was not clear if the arrest warrant had been passed to authorities in Jamaica, and Mr. Ratneser could not be contacted for comment yesterday. If convicted, Mr. Hall would have been jailed for between 14 and 18 years - the same sentences given to his Jamaican co-accused who pleaded guilty to importing the drugs. Controversy dogged the case even after Mr. Hall was released from Supreme Court on January 26. Mr. Hall's lawyer, Mark Diel, said Police refused to hand over his client's travel documents even after the case against him was dismissed. But Mr. Hall was able to obtain a temporary passport from the Jamaican Consul which allowed him to fly out of the Island on a private jet.