Red Dragon manager on human trafficking charge

Red Dragon Hotel manager Raymond “Clement” Ali was yesterday charged with keeping an underage Brazilian girl for exploitation, as a result of a joint investigation by police in Guyana and Brazil.

Ali, 61, of 15 Delhi Street, Prashad Nagar, pleaded not guilty to a charge of human trafficking when it was read to him by Magistrate Sueanna Lovell at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
He was was released on $300,000 bail.

Ali was charged along with another man, Selwyn Lewis, called ‘Selly’, of Nutmeg Street, Festival City, who was not present when the charge was read.

Raymond Ali
Raymond Ali

It was alleged that between June 1, 2011 and June 30, 2011, at the Red Dragon Hotel on Robb Street, Ali kept the girl at the Red Dragon Hotel for the purpose of exploitation.

Ali’s attorney Nigel Anthony asked that his client be admitted to bail in a reasonable sum, since he had a fixed place of abode. Anthony also said that his client, who is a father of four, had been fully cooperating with police investigations.
Prosecutor Police Sergeant Alexis David-Hosannah had no objections to bail.

Magistrate Sueanna Lovell subsequently set bail for Ali at $300,000 and adjourned the case until May 30.