Legal Commentary

Christopher "Dudus" Coke Waives Extradition, Arrives in New York

By Jeralyn

Christopher "Dudus" Coke has waived extradition and arrived in New York to face drug charges.

He was on his way to the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica yesterday, accompanied by a religious leader, Al Miller, when police stopped their car and arrested Dudus.

Dudus issued this statement: [More...]

I have, today, instructed my attorneys that I intend to waive my right to an extradition hearing in Jamaica and to proceed directly to the United States under the terms of the Extradition Laws and treaty between Jamaica and the United States of America.

I have taken this decision of my own free will and have done so even though I am of the belief that my case would have been successfully argued in the Courts of Jamaica.

I take this decision for I now believe it to be in the best interest of my family, the community of Western Kingston and in particular the people of Tivoli Gardens and above all Jamaica.

Everyone, the whole country, has been adversely affected by the process that has surrounded my extradition and I hope that my action today will go some way towards healing all who have suffered and will be of benefit to the community of Tivoli Gardens.

Above all, I am deeply upset and saddened by the unnecessary loss of lives which could have been avoided, be it of members of the security forces and over 80 residents of Tivoli or any other innocent Jamaicans that has occurred during this time.

I leave Jamaica and my family, in particular Patsy, with a heavy heart but fully confident that in due course I will be vindicated and returned to them.

Pray for me, and God bless Jamaica.

The police initially let the Minister go, then asked him to come in for questioning. After two days of intense grilling, he's now been charged with obstruction of justice and harboring a fugitive. Miller says he "has no regrets."

"Whenever you do what is right you must never regret it," Miller told a group of journalists as he emerged from the Organised Crime Investigation Division (OCID) offices in downtown Kingston, after he was released on bond.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on June 25, 2010 (boomark / email).