ALMOST nine million dollars in local and United States currency which the police took from Donald “Zeeks” Phipps in October, was returned to him on the weekend, with no additional charges laid on the so-called Matthew’s Lane area leader.

Phipps is currently before the courts on charges of illegal possession of 26 rounds of ammunition, possession of ganja weighing two pounds, and unlawful possession of pharmaceuticals.

The police said the bullets, ganja and pharmaceuticals were found at the Sons of The Lane Grocery Shop, which is owned by Phipps. The police then rummaged through Phipps’ home and found J$6 million and US$43,000 in a safe.

Although Phipps could not explain how he came by the money, his attorney K Churchill Neita said the police had no basis on which to keep the cash.

“I suppose the police would have sought legal counsel and also consulted with the Attorney General’s Department and were advised that there was no legal basis on which to keep the money,” Neita told the Observer last night.

According to the lawyer, he had consistently made representation to the police for the return of Phipps’ cash, since there were no charges relating to the seizure of the money.

Phipps is now on a $1.5-million bail. The conditions are that he reports to the Kingston Central Police Station on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between the hours of 6:00 am and 8:00 pm and surrender his travel documents.

A stop order was also placed at both international airports and Phipps was ordered to give his fingerprints to the police.

A prosecution request that the court order Phipps to reside at a house in the St Andrew North Police Division and report to the Constant Spring Police Station, was denied by Resident Magistrate Martin Gayle.