Lead Stories

Damion Mitchell, Assistant News Editor

Police sources are reporting that Sandra 'Sandie' Coke, sister of alleged crime lord Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, is being released from police detention under strict conditions.

Among the reported conditions is that she must not go to Tivoli Gardens in west Kingston, the former power base of Christopher Coke, who remains in a Manhattan Federal prison awaiting trial on drugs and gunrunning charges since his June 24 extradition. It is also reported that she will be closely monitored by the police.

Sandie is one of at least 20 persons for whom National Security Minister Senator Dwight Nelson has reportedly signed orders to be released from detention. She has been in custody since June 4 when she turned herself into law-enforcement authorities, days after the police labelled her as a person of major interest and asked her to do so.

Sandie, who was escorted to the police by the Reverend Al Miller, was initially detained for seven days. However, the national security minister later approved a request by the police to extend her detention by 30 days.

Dancehall artiste Adijah Palmer, popularly called Vybz Kartel, who turned himself in to the police on June 29 after he, too, was asked to do so, will also be released.

Kartel's release would allow him to perform at the Reggae Sumfest show next week and several other events.

But his attorney, Valerie Neita Robertson, is reporting that despite the signed order for the release of her client, up to late last evening, the St Catherine divisional command had given no indication that he would be released.

"If the members of the police force are so disrespectful of the orders of the minister of national security under whose authority the state of emergency falls, then we can understand the kind of country that we have now," she told The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre.

Questioned whether there was any legal recourse. Neita Roberston responded: "That will come at another time. and I am sure you will hear about it."

But Superintendent Anthony Powell, the commanding officer for St Catherine South, said Palmer was still being detained because he was yet to see an order for the release of the artiste.

'LIVITY' remains custody

In the meantime, our sources say Sandra Coke's brother, Leighton 'Livity' Coke, who also turned himself into the police last month in the company of Reverend Miller, will not be released; neither will any of the other detainees regarded as area leaders.

These include Michaelous 'Zeekie' Phipps of Matthews Lane; Spanish Town resident Tesha Miller; and Justin O'Gilvie, a close associate of Christopher Coke's.

They will remain behind bars under the Emergency Powers Act.

Over the past few weeks, the Emergency Powers Review Tribunal has been hearing the objections of people detained under the state of emergency.

Nancy Anderson, a member of the tribunal told, The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre yesterday that the body has made recommendations to the national security minister on all the cases heard. However, she would not say how many of the recommendations were for the release of detainees.

damion.mitchell@gleanerjm.com