Court varies bail conditions for flight attendant on drugs-related charges

A court has amended the bail conditions for a 44-year old female flight attended, who had been arrested and charged with possession of, dealing in, attempting to export, and conspiracy to export cocaine.

Michelle Virgo appeared in the St James Parish Court on Monday after she was arrested after three pounds of cocaine was reportedly discovered in her luggage at the Sangster International Airport.

The prosecution alleges that on June 6, Virgo was preparing to board a JetBlue flight bound for New York, when following a routine security check, the cocaine, which is said to have a street value of US$75,000 was reportedly found in a false compartment in her suitcase.

During her last court appearance on June 16,  Virgo, who holds dual citizen of Jamaica and the United States, was given one million dollars bail (One Jamaica dollar=US$0.008 cents)  with surety and ordered to report to the police three times per week.

However, when she appeared in court on Monday, her attorney Martyn Thomas successfully petitioned presiding judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley to reduce his client’s reporting times from three to two days per week.

She was wondering if her bail conditions could be varied to allow her to report two days a week, as she is reporting three days, but it is proving challenging as she now has prospective employment,” Thomas said.

The judge in conceding to Thomas’ request, but emphasising the importance of adhering to the other bail conditions, including the stop order preventing her from leaving Jamaica.

Virgo’s bail has been extended to October 3.

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