Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

Wolfe

Chief Justice Lensley Wolfe yesterday turned down an application brought by businessman Gareth Lewis, of Golden Spring, St. Andrew, who is wanted in the United States (U.S.) to face drug charges.

Lewis was seeking to have telephone records, in relation to alleged conversations which the police intercepted, unsealed to see if they were legally obtained.

The Chief Justice heard the application in the Supreme Court and turned down the application.

In custody since August

Lewis and his 75-year-old blind father, Jeffrey Lewis, have been in custody since August last year, awaiting an extradition hearing.

It is being alleged that the men conspired with others to export cocaine to the U.S.

Frank Phipps, Q.C., who is representing the men, said the only allegation against them was based on intercepted telephone calls under the Interception of Communications Act of 2002. The law is that the records must be kept sealed unless a Supreme Court judge orders the records to be unsealed.

The extradition hearing is set for January 11 in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court.