Khoy Frett

Photo Credit: Gordon French/BVI Platinum News

Khoy Frett

Photo Credit: Gordon French/BVI Platinum News

A day after the court turned down a request for his travel documents to be released, Senior Magistrate Valerie Stephens granted the request today, June 6 for Khoy Frett to have his passport to travel with his pregnant fiancé to St. Thomas. This is following another application by his lawyer, Stephen Daniels.

Frett, the proprietor of a courier service, is charged along with three of his employees in connection with the May 18 drug bust at Baughers Bay. He is the owner of the vessel where packages were found with marijuana.

Yesterday, his lawyer Daniels for the second time made an application for his passport to be released for the purpose of travelling to St. John for business and for him to accompany his pregnant fiancé to St. Thomas for medical checkups. After denying the request, Stephens told Daniels that he can make an application at the appropriate time. Daniels had stated that the next medical checkup is on Thursday, June 7.

Today in court, Senior Crown Counsel Christlyn Benjamin who appeared on behalf of Principal Counsel Tiffany Scatliffe, said the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions received a letter from Daniels for Frett's passport to be released from June 7 to June 25.

Benjamin said the crown still holds its position that Frett is a flight risk; however, they do not have any objection for the passport to be released for him to travel on June 7. She noted that the dates requested are lengthy and stated that they object to his green card being released. Yesterday after learning that Frett has a green card, an order was made for that to be also surrendered.

Magistrate Stephens said other requests in relation to medical reasons for his fiancé can be done in chambers at other times for the bail condition to be varied, allowing the release of the passport on those dates. She then ordered that she will released the passport for him to travel on June 7 and that he must return it by midday on Friday, June 8. Frett has to collect his passport at 6:00 pm today.

After a request from Daniels, the Magistrate said she will do the order in writing.

At yesterday's hearing, Daniels said that from the date when he was arrested, Frett had to use a third party for three trips to St. John and it has cost him a total of $2,180.00. He said it's $730.00 per trip in order to facilitate the cargo business and it covers the rental of the vessel, captain, etc.

Daniels had also submitted to the court that Frett's fiancé, who is eight and a half months pregnant, has to travel to St. Thomas for medical checkups until she gives birth on St. Thomas. He had noted that her next appointment is on Thursday, June 7 and Frett would need to be with the mother of his child.

"This is a case that appeals to humanity," he had stated.

The other men charged in the drug bust are Wilbert Donovan, 47 of Belle Vue; Gavin Richards, 29 of Long Look; and Guyanese native Suruj Persaud, 26 of East End.

The men pleaded not guilty to being concerned with the supply of a controlled drug [2.52 kilo grams of cannabis]; importation of a controlled drug, smuggling [drug]; unlawful possession of cannabis; being engaged with smuggling; and failing to declare. The street value of the drugs is $25,200.00.

They all have to return to court on July 3.