Mia Rahaman's case was yesterday put down to November 19, when it is expected that there would be a significant development, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) press officer told Stabroek News.
Rahaman, who was crowned Miss Guyana/ Universe 2002, and represented Guyana at the Miss Universe Pageant in San Juan, Puerto Rico, was detained at the Lester Pearson International Airport, Ontario in May last year after seven kilogrammes of cocaine was allegedly found in her luggage. The cocaine reportedly had a street value of Cdn$1M. She was turned over to the RCMP and held at a federal maximum security facility for two days. She pleaded not guilty to the federal charge when she appeared in a Canadian federal court in Toronto and was released on Cdn$25,000 bail.
RCMP Press Officer attached to the Toronto Airport Detachment, Arlene Flint said when Rahaman appeared in the Brampton Provincial Court yesterday there was no resolution to the case. On November 19, she said, the parties involved will have a discussion in front of a judge and one of three alternatives would be taken.
The alternatives, she said, would be to have a trial, to get a preliminary hearing date or if there is going to be a resolution there will be an agreement reached or sentencing.
If convicted as a first offender and considering the amount of the controlled substance she was charged with importing, Rahaman could face a prison term of between 18 months to five years and would automatically be deported at the end of her sentence. Rahaman is a Canadian landed immigrant.
The cocaine was discovered in the false bottom and sides of her suitcase and smaller amounts in three jars of various cosmetics following a secondary inspection by the Canadian customs authorities. A Canadian Customs officer, who interviews passengers on arrival, "had suspicions" about Rahaman and sent her for a secondary inspection during which the false bottom and sides were detected when the luggage was x-rayed. The officers are trained to look for suspicious behaviour at the initial interview including signs of nervousness.