A football official from Antigua and Barbuda, has been placed under house arrest in Jamaica following his appearance in court on Monday.
Danny Benjamin and another Antiguan, Derrick “Pretty Boy” Edwards, were recently arrested at the Norman Manley International Airport following a football match at Sabina Park in Kingston.
The men were returning home after a 1-1 draw with Jamaica, when their luggage was searched and found to contain marijuana.
They were charged with possession of marijuana, taking steps to export marijuana, and dealing in marijuana.
Benjamin has been ordered to serve the house arrest at the Jamaica National Football Team residence on Shortwood Road, in St. Andrew.. He was also granted bail, which was set at J$500,000 and had a stop order placed on him at all ports, should he try to leave the island. He has also been ordered to surrender his travel documents to the police.
Edwards had his bail granted to him last week.
Benjamin and Edwards maintain that they are innocent of the charges, saying that they know nothing of how illicit drugs got into their bags, as other members of the delegation had access to the luggage.
The men, who are represented by attorney Aon Stewart of the law firm Knight, Junor & Samuels, will have their case mentioned again at the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate’s Court on May 4.
