‘Dudus’ in NY court today

Former Tivoli don’s extradition ends ten-month drama

BY PAUL HENRY Observer staff reporter henryp@jamaicaobserver.com

Friday, June 25, 2010

UNITED States law enforcement agents yesterday afternoon delivered former Tivoli Gardens don Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke to authorities in New York where he is expected to be arraigned in a Manhattan Federal court today on drug- and gun-trafficking charges.

Late yesterday evening, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara issued a news release saying that Coke was now in that city “to face charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and cocaine and conspiracy to illegally traffic in firearms”.

Coke, who yesterday morning waived his right to an extradition trial, was flown out of the country just after 2:00 pm on a waiting US Marshals Service jet, closing perhaps the 10 most dramatic months in Jamaica’s history which brought the Government close to collapse, damaged diplomatic relations with the United States, left more than 70 people dead and hurt the island’s image as a tourist destination.

Following yesterday’s hearing at a special court held under iron-clad security at the Mobile Reserve along Camp Road in Kingston, Coke issued a statement through one of his lawyers, Tom Tavares-Finson, in which he said that his decision to forego an extradition trial was in the best interest of Jamaica.

“I take this decision for I now believe it to be in the best interest of my family, the community of West Kingston and in particular the people of Tivoli and, above all, Jamaica,” Coke said in a two-page typewritten statement. “I leave Jamaica and my family, in particular Patsy [mother Pauline Halliburton], with a heavy heart, but fully confident that in due course I will be vindicated and returned to them.”

If Coke is saddened by his departure from his family, more reasons for anxiety were pressed upon him, as immediately after his 15-minute hearing before Resident Magistrate Georgianna Fraser, he was slapped with an Order of Restraint authorising the State to seize his assets, estimated to be worth several million dollars.

By waiving his right to an extradition hearing, Coke — who is said to be fearful of spending time in prison out of concern that he may meet the same fate as his father Lester, who died in a mysterious fire at the General Penitentiary while awaiting extradition to the US in 1992 — has headed off what could have been a timeconsuming and expensive process.

At 9:55 yesterday morning, Coke, a short, stocky man with receding hairline and a balding scalp, was escorted by three towering members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force into the small blue and white wooden structure where the hearing took place.

Dressed in a blue and white striped shirt, Clarks shoes and grey jeans, a gold chain, white undershirt and leather-strap watch, Coke, who was allowed to walk freely without being cuffed, glanced at reporters and nodded his head while making his way to his seat — just minutes before Court was called to order.

Coke’s lawyers — Tavares-Finson and George Soutar — arrived late, prompting RM Fraser to query whether or not he had legal representation.

“Mr Coke, please stand,” Fraser beckoned. “Do you have counsel representing you in this matter?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Coke replied in a soft tone, after snapping from his seat.

“Who?” Fraser asked.

“Mr Soutar,” replied Coke, who appeared humbled.

The lawyers arrived immediately after Coke gave his answer and following an apology, Soutar indicated that Coke wished to waive his right to an extradition trial, prompting the magistrate to ask Coke if this was his desire. “Yes, ma’am,” Coke answered.

Coke was then told by RM Fraser that he had the right to fight his extradition and that he was also within his right to forego that trial. Fraser also informed Coke that he would be tried in the US and outlined the charges to him, while asking if he understood the implication of his decision and if he wanted to be extradited.

“Yes, ma’am,” Coke answered in a still soft tone.

Coke was then given a consent form to which he affixed his signature, in the presence of Tavares-Finson and under the gaze of two police officers. Before starting the process, which lasted five minutes, Coke for a second time glanced at reporters covering the proceedings.

Coke was then turned over to the police for extradition after Fraser read out the nature of the charges he will face in the United States.

Shortly before the proceedings came to an end Coke, through Tavares-Finson, thanked the police and members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) for the dignified way in which he was treated. Immediately after the proceedings at 10:15 Coke, who appeared resigned to his fate, was taken away in a dark-tinted blue vehicle, flanked by heavily armed masked security personnel on foot.

“This is what he wanted to do,” Soutar told the Observer when asked about Coke’s demeanour.

Attending the hearing were senior members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and US Marshals personnel. The hearing was not open to the general public and was held at the Mobile Reserve out of security concerns.

In his statement, Coke asked for prayers from Jamaicans and expressed confidence that he would be exonerated when his matter comes up for trial in New York. If convicted, Coke could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Coke had been on the run since May 24 when members of the security forces invaded his heavily barricaded former stronghold of Tivoli Gardens to serve an arrest warrant on him and restore law and order after coming under unprovoked attacks from rampaging gunmen, who had torched two police stations in Kingston and killed two police officers. A section of the Coronation Market was also torched.

A soldier was shot and killed during the Tivoli Gardens incursion and some 73 civilians killed. More than 50 civilians and members of the security forces were shot and injured.

Coke was apprehended along the Mandela Highway in St Catherine in the company of the Rev Al Miller on Tuesday. Miller said he was accompanying Coke to the US Embassy in Liguanea, where the fugitive wanted to turn himself in to US authorities.

In his statement yesterday, Coke expressed some penitence over those killed in the upheaval, that closed down the business district of downtown Kingston, racking up losses of over $100 million and counting.

“Above all, I am deeply upset and saddened by the unnecessary loss of lives which could have been avoided, be it of members of the security forces and over... 80 residents of Tivoli, or any other innocent Jamaicans that has occurred during this time,” Coke said in his statement.

Tavares-Finson said yesterday that Coke would have been flown off the island by 3:00. But by 1:33 he was landing at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston in a JDF helicopter, accompanied by two US Marshals who had been in the island prior to yesterday.

Amid tight security and a light drizzle, Coke was ushered into a building, where he changed into a blue jump-suit and was shackled with chains before being taken onto the jet. Local security officials said that other US Marshals were on the jet.

By 2:05 pm, the jet was airborne, and heading for the US.

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COMMENTS (29)

Xavi Singh
6/25/2010

Yes, but the difference with Bin Laden is that most people don't know where he is,and due to religious beliefs those Muslims will never sell him out to Us a christian nation. while Presi is a don with a address.

pet job
6/25/2010

The good thing about dudus was everyone knew what he was/is, how about the people you vote for , or the cops that have been running some of these dons for years,even give them guns, the business people who front for these dons lets get rid of them too or it just wont work

london skye
6/25/2010

The person writing this article should stick to storytelling; all these unnecessary details and what he assumed to be 'dudus's' emotions in the article - it's almost clyding the way the media needs to sensationalize any new surrounding dudus (exasperated sigh)

empress flatbush
6/25/2010

he was a lamb to slaughter by the pnp goverment portia, he is not gonna get a fair trial here in ny,wow how jamaica turn into a sell out just for that billion dollor from us. i wonder if they gonna biuld up poor communities or if they gonna help poor children pay their school fees.hmm let me answere that not even

critical thinker
6/25/2010

That was quick. Technology is great though, white Americans and Europeans no longer have to rely on those slow slave ships of the 17th and 18th century to transport black people from their homeland anymore. You have aircraft now.

Hope Alive
6/25/2010

@ See Breeze, you need to understand the Proceeds of Crime Act. You don't have to be charged in Jamaica for assets to be seized or frozen. The fact that your income does not support your wealth or there is a suspicion of wrong doing, the court can order your asset seize or frozen.

Sea Breeze
6/25/2010

His assets have been seized. However he is being charged for crimes allegedly committed in the US and not Jamaica. I assume that means that even if he is found guilty, the Jamaican government cannot profit from any seizure of his assets, be they monetary or otherwise. If this is in fact the case then Jamaica might come out the biggest loser in all this what with all the lives lost and the millions in loss to the business sector.

Impartial Jamaican
6/25/2010

@Greg Ray & Jmaes Wood. America also extradites their citizens to face charges and their are a few examples of this (Dog the bounty hunter being one although Mexico later dropped the charges). If you are wanted to face charges in another country and their is no legal reason you should not, then you should be turned over to that country to argue your innocence or confess to your guilt. Simple ting.

R. Harry
6/25/2010

What all need to understand is that whatever bad Dudus did he was either both ordererd and permitted by Jamaica's pass and present governments. It's funny how Bin Laden was schooled in the US and supposingly his finances are fueled by secret businesses located in the US, but still he is still free to commit crimes and distribute videos to claim responsibility for these acts. I am not defending Dudus at all, but he hasn't done a small portion of what some of these terrorists have done.

Mundo Melfadez
6/25/2010

This man was under surveillance for 16 years before a request was made for his extradition. If he calls any names and is deemed credible, its going to take another 10 plus years for any action on them.

Peter Sparks
6/25/2010

@ GREG RAY Here here!.. Another example of US imperialism! Don't agree with Dudus, But the US have' bigger fish fi' fry than him!..

Paris Spence
6/25/2010

May God Be With Him

barby jones
6/25/2010

Good questions "Miss Nanny" and "Real Southy". How come Tavares-Simpson back on the case? What kind of Tom foolery is this? You are right maybe it was to beg him not to sing. But what does Dudus have to lose? It is over for him any way, so Dudus please chirp! chirpa chirpa cheep cheep. Who knows you could win a "grammy"

Jacqueline Samms
6/25/2010

Gregg Ray, Bin Ladin is not the one that's preventing Jamaicans from living a normal,peaceful life without self imposed curfew

C M
6/25/2010

Well, Mr, Coke looked quite relaxed, he was even smiling for the cameras last night, all that running must be tiresome..I believe the US Law Enforcement will be very professional. "BEFORE THEY THROW THE BOOK AT HIM'..

Jacqueline Samms
6/25/2010

As of today Dudus will never again be allowed to go into a court house without wearing a handcuff............. What's wrong with Jamaica?

Antonette W.
6/25/2010

American legal system is different from Jamaica's. I believe Dudus will cut a deal with the US to provide them with all the info they need on other drug kingpins. He could get immunity and be put in the witness protection program. He'll never live in Jamaica again.

james wood
6/25/2010

Thank you Gregg, you sound like someone who actually read and dont depend on media for all of your information. Most people who comment here either politically motivated or just dont read enough, when they realise what America is doing to Jamaica it will be too late.

Jaye Stone
6/25/2010

Question to Tom Tavares-Finson: Is you is, or ain't you aint Dudus' local lawyer? I'm properly confused. Could have sworn you had resigned!
@Greg Ray: Instead of the police harassing Al Miller, he should be seconded to the US Dept of Defense to bring in Bin Laden. The man definitely got talent.

tickyticky fish
6/25/2010

Som a dem past and present Politicians next.
Mr. Edita please print this comment.

damian clarke
6/25/2010

BEST THING FOR JA

miss nanny
6/25/2010

How come Dudus' former attorney who resigned stating conflict of interest is now his attorney again? What has changed? Did they send him with a message? Did he beg him not to sing in NY? Ole time people always seh "Tom drunk but tom nuh fool".

real southy
6/25/2010

how come Finson withdrew himself the day before the Tivoli mess because of conflict of interest and now he comes back the day the man is leaving.what has change? why is the media not asking these questions
( i know you wont print this observer)

Markland Telemaque
6/25/2010

Best News all YEAR!! Great Job JCF/JDF

JA Cynic
6/25/2010

If Coke always wanted to waive his rights to a hearing in Jamaica ( for whatever reasons) then what took him so long?
Did Coke get proper and realistic legal advice?
Was Coke the unwitting victim of shakedown schemes with all types promising to" do- a- ting" for a fee, but in the end failed to deliver?
Who in fact benefitted financially from this 10- month debacle?
JA Cynic

Gregg Ray
6/25/2010

This is truly amazing the United States Government can demand that the Jamaican Government hand over Christopher Dudus Coke whom they identified as the dangerous narcotics kingpin. But yet nine year's after 9/11 and two major war's along with the dead of ten's of thousand people. The United States Government have not yet caught Osama Bin Laden one of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives with a 50 million dollar bounty for his capture! But yet the United States Government have been pressing the Jamaican Government for the pass 10 months to hand over Christopher Dudus Coke and the Jamaican Government put a $59,000.00 bounty on Dudus' capture what is wrong with this picture? The United States Government need's to put as much press on the Afghanistan Government to hand over Osama Bin Laden.

Chuck Emanuel
6/25/2010

All criminal aiders and abettors in Parliament masquerading as legal scholars, should be aware that they may be under investigation abroad for attempting to pervert the course of justice, or obstruction of justice.
What is quite apparent with these persons is that they collect a salary from the taxpayers of this country, and at the same time they are working for wanted criminals even against the Country's interest.
I say, follow the money !

Anthony II
6/25/2010

Re: "closing perhaps the 10 most dramatic months in Jamaica’s history."
.
Obviously, the writer has not read much Jamaican history!

Nicolas Henry
6/25/2010

Ja is now DUDUS free, and will be free for a long time. Let's turn the attention to other dons & their Shottas all over JA. Would be Dons, crime doesn't pay. With all the money DUDUS earned from whatever activities, in the end it was so humiliating for him to wear a granny wig in hiding, then leaving with USA marshalls in shackles. If he's young when he returns to JA he will have no money, no friends & no women in white shirts willing to die for him. Show me money & I show u my friends.

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‘Dudus’ in NY court today