MONTEGO BAY, St James — Despite her attorney’s claims that she was merely a pawn being used by criminals, a Jamaican-born British resident accused of attempting to smuggle 10 pounds of cocaine out of the island has been denied bail.

Anatalie Duncan-John, a 45-year-old engineer from Manchester, England, made her first appearance in the St James Parish Court on Wednesday before Presiding Parish Judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley.

During the bail hearing, attorney-at-law Henry McCurdy argued that his client came to Jamaica to find a home for her 12-year-old autistic daughter.

“She is adamant that she is innocent and that she was used by [a] criminal enterprise,” said McCurdy, who also noted that Duncan-John was remorseful and has no previous convictions.

The clerk then informed the court that the file had not been completed because the forensic certificate was still outstanding.

Smith-Ashley, who said she does not believe Duncan-John is a suitable candidate for bail, then instructed that she was to be remanded in custody until September 1.

At that point the accused pleaded with the judge to grant her bail, but the judge refused. “Your lawyer did everything possible to persuade me that you ought to be granted bail, and I’m not of the view that you should be… You say you are not guilty, that you had no idea that you were carrying 10 pounds of cocaine in your suitcase, and so the matter will be tried,” the judge told the accused woman before she was escorted to the holding area.

The allegations are that Duncan-John was at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay on August 16, preparing to board a TUI flight to London, when she was intercepted by members of the narcotics police. Her two suitcases were searched and cocaine was allegedly found in food items.

Duncan-John was subsequently arrested and charged with possession of, dealing in, and attempting to export cocaine.