Latest update December 21st, 2024 12:41 AM
US citizen arrested for witness tampering in drug case
An American citizen who is facing drug trafficking charges was arrested along with her female companion on Monday, last, as police probe allegations of witness tampering.
Dawn Saul-Khan
The woman, Dawn Saul-Khan, 56, of Brooklyn, New York, was detained after two other American drug trafficking suspects alleged that she had threatened them while they were in custody at the Beterverwagting Police Station lock-ups.
Saul-Khan was held on October 12, last, and charged for reportedly procuring four persons to engage in trafficking in narcotics. On that same day, four persons who were reportedly scheduled to traffic cocaine to the United States via a Delta Airlines flight were nabbed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
Although Saul-Khan had no drugs on her person, she was fingered by the said quartet as the person who had procured the drugs that was reportedly being smuggled.
While the four accused – Gregory Hinds, 20, Adrian Roberts, 28, Melissa Geriera, 25 and Taniqua Johnson, 19 – were charged for the varying amounts of cocaine they were reportedly carrying, Saul- Khan was charged for 600 grams of cocaine, the total amount that the authorities had confiscated.
The accused all pleaded not guilty. The four mules were remanded, while Saul-Khan was granted bail to the tune of $2M; which was subsequently reduced to $1M.
After posting bail, it is alleged that Saul-Khan visited the two female accused and spoke to them in a threatening manner.
This was mentioned in court when the matter was called again before Magistrate Leslie Sobers at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.
The revelation prompted a murmur in the court, but what was even more interesting was the revelation by the father of one of the accused who had travelled to Guyana upon learning of the arrest of his son. The man related that since his son’s arrest, his family had been in receipt of numerous threatening phone calls.
Even the attorneys of the other accused confirmed in court that their clients were receiving threats.
Saul-Khan and her companion however denied the allegations, claiming that they were merely taking food for the detainees.
Magistrate Sobers acknowledged the seriousness of the allegation and ordered that a thorough investigation be carried out. Saul-Khan and her partner were immediately arrested and placed in separate lock-ups.
Kaieteur News understands that a police woman was also detained for her alleged role in allowing Saul-Khan access to the other accused while they were held at the police station.
On December 7, all the accused are expected back in court for the drug matter. The file in relation to the threats has already been delivered to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.
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