Tashieka Mair, Star Writer

WESTERN BUREAU

Former Air Jamaica customer service agent, Chadwick Hewing, 23, who has been in custody since February on ganja possession charges, was recently granted bail in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court.

Hewing of Falmouth, Trelawny, was charged with possession, dealing and attempting to export ganja after he was observed placing a suitcase, which was later discovered to have more than 42 pounds of ganja, on the conveyor belt at the Sangster International Airport, St. James.

He was arrested after checks made revealed that the passenger, whose nametag the accused had placed on the suitcase, did not check in that suitcase.

On Friday, it was revealed to the court that the vital video footage that allegedly showed the accused carrying out the act was erased from the airport's system as the 39-day period had expired.

He was granted $200,000 bail and ordered to surrender his travel documents. A stop order was also imposed at all ports of exit and he was instructed to report to the Falmouth police on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Hewing, represented by attorney-at-law Ernest Smith, returns to court on May 30.

Allegations outlined in court are that on a date in the last week of February, Hewing was seen at the airport printing a tag that he later placed on a bag belonging to a passenger on an Air Jamaica flight. He was subsequently seen placing the bag on the conveyer belt.

During routine luggage checks the bag was searched and among old newspaper an officer discovered ganja weighing 42.5 pounds.