Following suggestions by the prosecutors, US Magistrate Edwin Torres ruled yesterday that a $10 million court maturity bond be set for Knowles.
This came after Judge Torres proposed an initial $1 million, but Federal Prosecutor George Karavetzos said he found this too moderate, considering evidence that suggests Mr Knowles engaged in the distribution of thousands of grams of cocaine amounting to upwards of $1 billion.
Yesterday’s court proceedings were scheduled to include Knowles’ arraignment and bond hearing on case numbers 0425 and 1091, both for conspiracy to import and conspiracy to possess, according to his Bahamas Attorney Roger Minnis; however, his Federal Public defence lawyer Stewart Abrams and Mr Karavetzos agreed to defer the proceedings due to the need for clarification of his extradition with regard to case number 1091 as well as a conflict of interest Mr Abrams said he might encounter by representing Knowles.
Therefore, the arraignment was deferred to Tuesday, September 19.
Mr Abrams explained to the court that Knowles is still seeking a private defence attorney and said that it would be a pleasure to represent him if he could not find private counsel. He went on to explain to the judge that he had some time to speak to Knowles and found that he was a very nice individual.
According to Mr Abrams the problem he faces is in his representing another person involved in one of Knowles’ cases, which constitutes a prohibited conflict of interest.
Knowles’ appearance in the New North Courtroom of the US District Court, Southern District of Florida marked his second court appearance within days following his extradition from New Providence.
Knowles sat in the courtroom in the front row of the jury box to the left of Judge Torres together with four other prisoners all handcuffed, right arm to left arm – both his hands were cuffed to two other prisoners – while he awaited his arraignment. He and the other prisoners wore beige prison uniforms that resemble doctors’ scrubs with white undershirts.
While his hair was unkempt he was shaven; he sat upright during the proceedings holding a manila folder in his right hand until he was called to the floor without handcuffs, but in leg shackles. He kept the same acute facial expression throughout.
US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) officers lined the front row of the courtroom seating, one agent holding a copy of a Bahamian newspaper with a large picture of Knowles on the front. It was not known if any of his family members attended the hearing, but his Bahamian lawyer, Roger Minnis, explained that they were in the Miami area sometime this week.
Following Knowles’ hearing, Mr Minnis pulled Mr Abrams aside to inquire into Knowles’ receipt of medication for diabetes. Mr Abrams said he was not sure if Knowles had received any medication at all, but said he would look into it. At that time Mr Minnis handed Mr Abrams Knowles’ spectacles, which he took back into the courtroom for him.
Samuel “Ninety” Knowles had been labelled a “drug kingpin” by President George Bush, prompting his Bahamas lawyer to appeal extradition requests by the US, convinced that President Bush’s label would not enable Knowles to get a fair trial in Miami courts.
Two extradition requests were sent to the Privy Council in England. The request for extradition in case number 0425 was deemed admissible by the Privy Council sometime last month; however, the extradition request with regard to case number 1091 was not.
Knowles spent six years in Fox Hill Prison on an unrelated drug charge. Mr Minnis says he is now optimistic that his client will be exonerated.
By CHESTER ROBARDS, The Tribune
