Two Fishermen Get Bail in Cocaine Case

Tonight, two fishermen from the north have been granted bail following their appearance in the High Court before Justice Nigel Pilgrim. Thirty-one-year-old Lerman Norman Leslie, of Chunox Village, and 24-year-old Ronyer Alexander Cruz, of Sarteneja Village, both from Corozal, were granted bail in the amount of $9,000 each, with two sureties of $4,500 each. The prosecutor, Derrick Staine, did not object to the bail. The conditions of their release include reporting to the Corozal Police Station every Monday and Friday, attending all court hearings in Orange Walk, and refraining from any contact with prosecution witnesses. They are also prohibited from leaving the jurisdiction without court permission and must not be arrested for any further offenses. Leslie and Cruz were among six fishermen initially charged, along with Pastor Mark Anthony Humes, with possession of 1,137 grams of cocaine. The group was arrested following a police interception of a gold Dodge Caravan in Orange Walk Town on March 18. Police reports indicate that Humes was hired to transport the fishermen from Belize City to Orange Walk when the vehicle was stopped by the Mobile Interdiction Team and the Highway Interdiction Team. Pastor Humes has since had the charges against him withdrawn. The remaining four fishermen, Freddy Estuardo Chavez, Angel Aragon, Marvin Teul, and Christian Merilyn White, represented by Attorney David McKoy, will have their bail applications heard on Monday, March 31. The six fishermen who remain charged are scheduled to reappear in the Orange Walk Magistrate’s Court on May 22. The case continues to unfold, with four more bail applications pending and the six fishermen awaiting their next court appearance in Orange Walk.