The State wants Gregston Ricardo Orlando Sealy to forfeit every cent of the US$24 943 he was caught with at Grantley Adams International Airport four years ago.
His attorney, however, wants otherwise.
The two sides will put forward their arguments in December when Sealy reappears in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court.
The Commissioner of Police has brought an application for forfeiture against Sealy, of Civilian Road, Bush Hall, St Michael, in relation to the sum of US$24 943 and BDS$44. The application falls under the Proceeds And Instrumentalities Of Crime Act.
He had pleaded guilty, on November 13, 2024, to the charge that on April 9, 2022, he attempted to export the money from Barbados to Jamaica without the requisite authorisation in contravention of the Exchange Control Act.
He told the court he had accumulated the money to build a house for his girlfriend in Jamaica, but could not say the name of the woman.
Chief Magistrate Douglas Frederick, then a magistrate, had ordered him to forfeit US$12 000 of the money, after he had taken into consideration Sealy’s guilty plea, the aggravating and mitigating circumstances, and the provisions under the Penal System Reform Act.
Yesterday, Deputy Solicitor General Marsha Lougheed told the court she had filed an application for forfeiture of the entire sum on April 24, 2024, which predated Sealy’s guilty plea.
“We don’t believe we should be returning any money to Mr Sealy,” she said, adding Sealy’s guilty plea only strengthened the State’s case.
Lougheed said the State had also brought a civil application against Sealy.
Attorney Andrew Willoughby, who is challenging the application, informed the court that a matter of money laundering, against Sealy, had been withdrawn by the prosecution.
In the end, Chief Magistrate Frederick adjourned the application until December 7. (HLE)