Leon King (braids) and Gerry Freeman are facing charges of money laundering and possession of cocaine. Photo: VINO/File

Jomo Jack (left) and James Telesford John (right). Photo: VINO/File

Taylor, a veteran police officer of 32 years, detailed surveillance activities that ultimately led to the apprehension and arrest of the five men near the Central Administration Complex on August 10, 2012.

The five accused are James Telesford John, Jomo Jack, Leon King, Hugh Erickson and Gerry Freeman. King and Jack are represented by Ruthilia Maximea; John is represented by Stephen Daniels; Erickson is represented by Herbert McKenzie and Freeman is represented by Dale Hamilton, QC.

Surveillance Day 1

Detective Taylor, one of the arresting officers in the case, testified that surveillance began on August 8, 2012 when one of the accused men, Jomo Jack, entered the Territory through the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport at Beef Island.

According to Taylor, Jack’s movements were monitored by him and other officers from the time Jack arrived in the Territory on a LIAT flight at approximately 7:30 P.M. on the said date.

The accused was allegedly met by an unknown female at the airport after which the two left by taxi arriving near Little Dix Road close to the East End Police Station. A bag was allegedly removed from the taxi and placed into a KIA motor vehicle, which was followed by the Detective into Road Town. Taylor told the court that he lost sight of the vehicle at the traffic lights but further surveillance was carried out by other officers.

Surveillance Day 2

Surveillance continued on the following day, August 9, 2012 when the KIA vehicle was spotted near the Central Administration Complex where the accused allegedly met with the driver of a Toyota RAV4. One other person was reportedly present in the RAV4 at the time and the occupants got out and went to the trunk of the vehicles before going back into their vehicles and driving away.

Taylor related that the RAV4 passed near to the location he had parked and he noticed that it was allegedly driven by James Telesford John, another of the accused men. The Detective said he was unable to identify the occupants of the other vehicle due to his range and the distance he had been positioned away from the vehicle.

Surveillance Day 3

The Detective further testified that He was driving east near Baughers Bay on August 9, 2012 when he noticed the defendant, Jomo Jack, driving west in a KIA vehicle. The defendant appeared to be using a cellphone at the time, according to Taylor. He subsequently lost sight of the vehicle but later saw it again unattended and parked at Huntum’s Ghut near a petrol station.

Surveillance Day 4 and arrest

On August 10, 2012 the KIA vehicle was once again allegedly spotted in the area of the Central Administration Complex approximately around noon. The occupant/s of the KIA vehicle met with the person/s in the same RAV4 from the previous day and both were parked near each other.

According to Detective Taylor, a man got out of the RAV4 and entered the KIA vehicle. After this, the occupants stood at the rear of the vehicles looking into the trunk area.

The vehicles subsequently took off from the Complex and were intercepted by police officers. Three persons were detained including, John, Jack and Leon King. A bag was allegedly recovered from the KIA vehicle with a large amount of US currency.

Taylor said he escorted John away to the RAV4 while the other accused were at the scene with other arresting officers. Other items were allegedly recovered from the vehicle, including a cell phone.

The Detective then reportedly cautioned John and asked various questions about the items in the vehicle.

Upon their arrest, the court was informed that officers recovered over $688,000 in cash and around 114 kilos of cocaine, with the street value estimated to be $11.4 million.

Four witnesses testified on the previous day, while an additional four were expected to testify today as the trial continued. The witnesses include Detective Taylor as well as an Intelligence Analyst attached to the London Metropolitan Police Service.