The ex-police officers facing 15 money-laundering and drug trafficking offences linked to a double murder in Cedar Valley are out on bail.
Arleigh Byer and Cosbert Sergeant spent Christmas with their families after meeting their bail conditions on Christmas Eve.
In lieu of physical cash, the court accepted property and other equipment put up by independent persons.
A stipulation of the bail requirement was that Byer and Sergeant not hold title for any of the properties or have an interest in them.
Byer and Sergeant were granted bail in St John’s Magistrates’ Court for possession of 35 kilos of cocaine, but were unable to come up with the $100,000 cash deposit of the $1.2 million bail. The cash component was later cut in half.
The duo obtained bail in the High Court in the sum of $800,000 on December 20 on the money-laundering offences.
A cash deposit of $200,000 was ordered in addition to other conditions including reporting to the nearest police station three days weekly.
The cocaine was found on the scene of a double murder where thirty-four-year-old Alwin Robin and Alix Riviere, 32, both of Dominica, were found shot to death in a Cedar Valley house.
Both men allegedly are custodians of the property.
While being detained in prison waiting to fulfil the bail conditions, both men were slapped with nine counts of money laundering, by the Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP).
The ONDCP later served them with an additional six charges.
The men’s arrest and charging follows a two-year probe by the law enforcement agency.
All the matters have been adjourned until February 25. The money laundering charges, under the Money Laundering Act, are summary matters to be heard by a magistrate unless otherwise directed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and without consent of the accused.
Attorney Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin is the men’s legal advocate.
Antigua Observer
