Nevispages Reporter
(CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS)- Two of the crew members of the vessel ‘Nevisian Spirit’ who were arrested and charged on Wednesday, April 9, 2014, were freed from all charges on Friday, September 26, 2014.
The incident occurred after police officers of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise Department raided the Four Seasons owned and operated vessel and found two bales of compressed marijuana.
On Friday, Wasim Richards and Kemroy Simmonds walked out the Basseterre Magistrate Court after Police Prosecution dropped all charges against them. Both men were among five other crew members who were arrested after a young pregnant female dropped off a package to the vessel at the Port Zante Marina while it was docked on Wednesday, April 9, 2014. Officers moved in and were able to retrieved two bales of compressed marijuana.
A press release which included the pictures of the crew members was disseminated to media houses by the Press and Public Relation Office of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force on Thursday, April 10, 2014. The image of the female was not released to the general public. The release stated that the five men were arrested and charged with possession of cannabis and possession with the intent to supply to another.
The names given were Wasim Richards of Ramsbury Site, Nevis, Jermaine Pemberton of New Castle, Nevis, Kemroy Simmonds of Hermitage Village, Nevis, Captain Robert Gregory Roberts of Stoney Grove, Nevis and the lone Kittitian Damion Jeffers of Ponds Pasture.
Nevispages understands that the case against the others including the female continued today Monday, September 29, 2014 before Magistrate Josephine Mallalieu- Webb. All of the defendants have pleaded not guilty and are represented by an attorney.
Richards was represented by Attorney John Cato while Simmonds was represented by Dr. Henry Browne Q.C.
Richards expressed that the matter had been devastating and humiliating. He noted that it felt good to be free and that he was innocent all along. He explained that the incident had cost him his job, a job that he and his colleague, Simmonds loved so much.
The fate of the others is now in the hands of Magistrate Josephine Mallalieu- Webb.