Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:The court hearing for the two male relatives of Montego Bay's Deputy Mayor Michael Troupe, who were arrested in the same police operation in which he and fellow councillor, Sylvan Reid, were taken into custody by the police's Lottery Scam Task Force, failed to start yesterday.

Troupe's son, 29-year-old businessman Dwight Troupe, and his 29-year-old cousin Ricardo Jarrett, were both told to return for their hearing on February 22, next year, when they appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court.

The new court date was given after their chief defence attorney, Leonard Green, failed to show-up for the hearing.

Deputy Mayor Troupe was cleared of all charges, but his son, Jevaughn, who pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm and five rounds of ammunition found in their home, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment and fined $2 million.

OTHER CHARGES

However, Reid, who, like Troupe, is a member of the People's National Party, is still facing an unlawful possession of property charge.

Meanwhile, Dwight Troupe and Jarrett are facing charges of unlawful possession of property arising from the seizure of five flat-screen television sets found at their premises in Rosevale, St James, during the police operation on July 18.

"Mr Green is not here and he is apologising to the court … . He has commitment elsewhere, and under the circumstances, he is asking for another date," supporting defence attorney George Duncan told Resident Magistrate Sandria Wong-Small.