Constance gets two and a half years for money laundering

Charles “Charlie” Constance’s worst fears materialised on Wednesday at the Serious Offences Court when he was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment by Chief Magistrate Simone Churaman for money laundering.

Constance, a business owner of Paul’s Avenue, was arrested and charged in March last year at the E.T Joshua airport. At the hearing on April 12, he pled not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of $3000.{{more}}

On Wednesday however, when his trial was about to commence he pled guilty to the charge.

Constance is said to have arrived from Barbados when PC 518 Harry approached him and asked to see his customs declaration form. The form was not filled out and Officer Harry then requested and was granted permission to conduct a search on him.

The search revealed two white envelopes with large sums of Barbadian currency in his front and rear pockets. When cautioned by Harry, Constance replied, “Me get the money from selling ah boat engine.”

A further search conducted found BD$9300 and US$210. Constance told the officer that he did not have anywhere else to put the money that was the reason for placing it in his underwear. The money amounted to EC$26,000.

Constance told Magistrate Churaman that a friend invited him to Barbados to bring up some money for him. “I was just invited to come to Barbados to bring some money for someone, I do not know what it was for.”