From the Courts
January 4, 2008

Martiniquan pilot nabbed at Airport with ammo, cocaine

January 1, 2008, saw one Martiniquan pilot in police custody and facing two criminal charges.

When 51-year-old Alain Fanchette appeared at the Serious Offences Court on Wednesday, he pleaded guilty to having one .38 ammunition without a license and one gram of cocaine.{{more}}

Chief Magistrate Sonya Young fined Fanchette $500 forthwith for the ammunition or six months imprisonment, and another $500 forthwith for the cocaine or a further six-month custodial sentence.

Information reaching the court stated that Fanchette arrived in the state the same day on his aircraft and was leaving at 5:55pm. While checking with security personnel in the departure area at the E.T Joshua Airport, a search conducted on him found the ammunition and cocaine. He was cautioned and replied, “Officer, it is a fake, please give me a chance.” Fanchette was cautioned again at the Criminal Investigations Department and admitted to the offence.

Fanchette’s lawyer Joseph Delves said that his client had the bullet in his pocket as a lucky charm, since it could no longer be used.

A deportation order was also made against Fanchette.(KW)