WESTERN BUREAU — Dr Audley Hamilton, the 37 year-old St Elizabeth physician who was charged in connection with the discovery of a shipment of liquid cocaine at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, was yesterday sentenced to three-and-a half years behind bars.

In addition, the doctor — who was the only one of three men convicted in connection with the shipment – was fined $1.2 million. If the fine is not paid, he will spend an additional year-and-a-half in prison.

But the doctor of 13 years is not prepared to accept RM Paulette Williams’ verdict and his attorney, Headley Cunningham QC has given the court verbal notice of his intention to file an appeal.

For possession of the drug, Dr Hamilton was fined $400,000 or six months. For trafficking it, he was fined an additional $400,000 or six months. And for attempting to export it he was fined another $400,000 or six months and sentenced to three-and-a half-years behind bars.

The conspiracy and dealing charges against the married father of three, were dismissed.

The other two men – truck driver, Dave Channer and sideman, Michael Rodney — were freed on the basis of a lack of evidence.

On June 18 of 2001, Channer allegedly went to the Air Jamaica cargo office at the Sangster International Airport and attempted to ship 160 boxes that were said to contain 80 cans of carrot juice and 80 cans of ackee. The shipment was destined for Canada and was allegedly being made on Dr Hamilton’s behalf.

But a security check of the shipment revealed that at least one of the cans contained a liquid substance resembling cocaine and the police were summoned.

Channer, who had reportedly transported the items to the airport in a truck, and Rodney who had served as his sideman, were both arrested and slapped with charges for breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Later that day, the doctor went to the narcotics police station and told the investigator it was he who had given the men the goods to ship. He was later charged.

Forensic testing of the substance confirmed it was cocaine weighing some 30 pounds, 1.43 ounces.

During the hearing of the evidence, it was revealed that Channer had picked up the packages from Southern Food Fruits and Processors Limited at Bull Savannah in Black River June 13, 2001 and transported them to Hamilton’s home. And it was from the doctor’s home that they were subsequently collected, on June 18, when they were to be shipped to Canada.

That aside, the evidence showed that the cans had been tampered with. The forensic expert who testified said she observed striations on the tins. And it was also revealed that the factory codes, normally put on every can, were absent from the cans in which the contraband was found.

Inside the Montego Bay RM Court yesterday, Hamilton’s attorney sought to have him freed of the charges. He argued that the fact that cans were stored at his client’s home between June 13 and 18 did not mean his client had tampered with them. The fact that he had the opportunity to do so, the attorney said, did not mean that he tampered with the cans; and he maintained that the prosecution had failed to prove he had.

In addition, he said his client had explained that the cans were kept at his home for five days because, due to their quantity, the airline was unable to ship them earlier, on June 16. Cunningham said his client was a man of “good character” with nothing to hide and had co-operated with the police.

RM Williams was, however, unwilling to accept his claim to innocence.

The evidence, she said, was simply too compelling.

After she had handed down the sentences, Cunningham indicated his intent to appeal the decision and requested bail on his client’s behalf pending the outcome of the appeal.

But RM Williams said that with a guilty verdict and the nature of the sentences, there was no guarantee that Hamilton would not abscond.