Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
AN ARUBAN man with a Dutch passport, who was held with over US$30,000 while trying to leave the island in November last year, told the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday that the money was proceeds from business he was involved in over the last six months.
RM Valerie Stephens had ruled that José Guerra, a 44-year-old businessman, be called to give an account of the legal means by which he came into possession of the US$30,720 (over $1.8 million) that was found in a secret compartment of a bag he had checked in at the airport.
Mr. Guerra, whose attorneys, Trevor Ho-Lyn and Ronald Paris, had earlier made a no-case submission on his behalf, was told by Ms. Stephens that based on the evidence tendered, there was reasonable suspicion that the money was either stolen or unlawfully obtained.
Speaking through an interpreter, Guerra told the court under direct examination by Mr. Paris that he had come to Jamaica on two occasions to look into the possibilities of setting up a business here.
He said he was a partner in a business, based in Curaçao, which traded food between Venezuela and the Netherland Antilles.
He said his first trip was in October, when he carried out some market studies to see what products he could buy from here to resell in the Dutch Antilles and what products he could introduce into the Jamaican market.
He said he brought the money when he arrived in Jamaica on November 27, as cash was the best and fastest way to do business.
Guerra told the court that because he does not understand English too well, he was not sure what was happening when he was held at the airport and did not understand what was being said to him.
Under cross-examination by Clerk of Court Sandria Wong-Small, Guerra told the court he had been in Venezuela and Curacao before coming to Jamaica and that while here, he had done his market study with a Jamaican man who had worked for his company for two years.
However, he told the court he did not know what the man did for a living now.
He said the market study included visits to the bigger supermarkets around Montego Bay as well as hotels and stores to see what kind of merchandise they had on the shelves. He said that at the hotels, he spoke to housekeeping staff and supervisors to see what kinds of towels they used.
He said he had not declared the money when he brought it in as he did not understand the customs declaration form and he thought it was only pertaining to produce. He however identified an immigration form he filled out telling the court he recognised a little of what was on it.
The case will continue on Friday March 12 when Guerra will continue giving evidence.
