Magistrate Judy Latchman yesterday ruled that she would seek direction from the High Court on how to proceed with the application made to her by the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for the forfeiture of $9 million that was seized from convicted drug trafficker Barry Dataram and his brother, Troy Dataram.
At the previous hearing, a DPP representative made submissions addressing the issue of why the DPP was pursuing the matter before
the Magistrate’s Court under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act as opposed to under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act as was suggested by the magistrate.
As a result, Magistrate Latchman yesterday announced that based on the nature of the matter and the fact that Section 46 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act, under which it was brought, is silent on procedure, she would refer the matter to the High Court for advice.
The matter was then adjourned to March 20 for report.
