The premier of the British Virgin Islands, who was arrested on charges of conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the U.S. last week, was granted a $500,000 bond on Wednesday, a move that could see him released from a Miami prison.
Andrew Alturo Fahie, 51, who has been premier of the Caribbean territory since 2019, was granted the bond by federal court judge Alicia Otazo-Reyes, The Associated Press reported.
If released, Fahie could remain in Miami at the rented apartment of his two college-age daughters, the judge ruled. As a condition of bail, Fahie and his family must also surrender their passports, and the premier must wear an ankle bracelet monitor, according to the AP.
In a surprise ruling, a federal judge in Miami has agreed to release from prison the premier of the British Virgin Islands as he awaits trial on cocaine charges.
— The Associated Press (@AP) May 4, 2022
Prosecutors said the politician is "corrupt to the core" and could flee if released on bond. https://t.co/VHJ3nTUA7Q
On Monday, attorneys for Fahie demanded his immediate release, The Guardian reported. Attorneys, in a filing with a Miami federal court, said that Fahie was immune from prosecution because is the elected, constitutional head of government of the British overseas territory.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Frederic Shadley said the U.S. government would appeal the decision.
>> British Virgin Islands premier arrested in Miami on cocaine smuggling charge
“He’s shown in this case that he’s corrupt to the core and believes he’s above the law,” Shadley said. “He was a public servant sworn to uphold those laws but he broke them over and over again.”
Fahie and Oleanvine Maynard, the director of the British Virgin Islands’ port authority, were arrested by federal agents at Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport, the Miami Herald reported.
According to authorities, the men were charged with conspiring to import cocaine into U.S. and money laundering, the newspaper reported.
Fahie and Maynard were taken into custody by Drug Enforcement Administration agents. According to the Herald, undercover agents posing as cocaine traffickers met the men to examine an alleged shipment of $700,000 in cash. Agents, who posed as members of the Mexican Sinaloa cartel, believed the plane was bound for the British Virgin Islands, according to the newspaper.
Fahie and Maynard were in Miami for a cruise convention, the Herald reported. They went to the airport, located northwest of downtown Miami, early Thursday to view the cash after DEA agents told them the money was a payoff for allowing the cartel to ship future loads of cocaine through the archipelago, which is adjacent to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Fahie’s attorney, Theresa Van Vliet, said her client would plead not guilty when he is arraigned later this month, according to the AP.
Van Vliet entered a “diplomatic note” as evidence, signed by an unidentified official from the premier’s office in Road Town requesting his “immediate and unconditional release.”
On Wednesday, acting Premier Natalio Wheatley said the letter was sent erroneously by a “rogue” official and did not reflect the government’s position, the AP reported.
©2022 Cox Media Group
