Popular radio disc jockey Starchild who was charged with trafficking in drugs at Piarco International Airport was yesterday refused bail and remanded in custody by an Arima Magistrate.
By Trevor BurnettHe was unrepresented before Senior Magistrate Debra Quintyne who instructed him of his right to apply to a judge in chambers for bail.
Marinus Ayres, 38, known in the music industry as Star Child, of San Juan was arrested on Saturday at the airport by officers attached to the Organised Crime and Narcotics Bureau (OCNB).
Ayres allegedly had 1,457 grammes of cocaine concealed in packages of curry, channa, dhal, baking powder and icing glass, which were patched inside two jeans and two sweaters.
At the time of his arrest, he was attempting to board BWIA flight 527 headed for JFK Airport in New York.
On the OCNB charge of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, he was charged indictably and not called upon to plead.
On the Customs and Excise Office summary charge of attempting to export prohibited goods, Ayres originally offered a plea of not guilty.
Prosecutor Corporal Mark Maharaj described the exhibits for the court that were initialed by the charging officers.
Ayres then made an attempt to change his not guilty plea to guilty, but was advised by Magistrate Quintyne to seek the assistance of an attorney since he was charged indictably on the trafficking offence.
Magistrate Quintyne then ordered Ayres to reappear before the Arima Magistrates' Court on February 16.
