WESTERN BUREAU

Not even the mention of a complicated heart condition was enough to earn bail to a woman facing a cocaine possession charge in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court.

Resident Magistrate Winsome Henry on Tuesday said the family of Debbie Bennett, 28, will have to arrange for her to receive medication in custody as she would not be allowed out on bail.

Textbooks in her suitcase

The resident of Fort Lauderdale, USA, and Kingston was charged in connection with the seizure of a kilogram (two pounds) of cocaine in two textbooks that were allegedly in her suitcase. She has pleaded not guilty, claiming the books were given to her to deliver to someone and had no knowledge they contained cocaine.

Defence attorney George Thomas asked that she be granted bail on humanitarian grounds as she has run out of medication to treat a heart condition. He said that the condition in the lock-up was not healthy for Bennett.

A frequent flier

RM Henry said that Bennett, who is a frequent flier, should have been more careful when taking back items for persons. She said she considered the accused a flight risk. Bennett is to return to court on December 4. In the meantime, the court is awaiting the forensic report.

Allegations are that on October 5, Bennett checked in to board an Air Jamaica flight from the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay to Ontario in Canada. Her suitcase was searched and powdery substance resembling cocaine weighing a kilogram was found in a secret compartment in the cover of the textbooks.