MIA Rahaman

Sources told the Chronicle that a prominent Canadian-based Guyanese attorney, Mr. Dhaman Kissoon, retained by the Rahaman family, was successful Thursday in obtaining Mia’s pre-trial liberty before the Brampton Provincial Court, north of Toronto, where she had made an initial appearance and was remanded to prison.

Her mother reportedly posted C$5,000 cash and $20, 000 surety to cover the bail. She returns to Court on June 13.

Mia, who was crowned Miss Guyana/Universe 2002 and was Guyana’s delegate at the Miss Universe 2002 pageant in Panama, was charged with the federal offence of “importation of a controlled substance,” and pleaded not guilty. The charge was instituted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

The cocaine, with a street value of CDN $1 million, was allegedly found in a false bottom and side of one of her suitcases, and in small quantities in her cosmetics (cream and lotion).

Mia arrived in Canada during the wee hours of May 21 at Terminal 3 of Pearson International Airport as a first-class passenger aboard an Air Transat flight from Guyana. An interviewing Immigration officer reportedly became suspicious of her behaviour and referred her for a secondary inspection with Customs, the Chronicle learnt.

It was that inspection conducted by Customs that revealed the alleged find.

According to the source, Mia upon being released went to her mother's home in Scarborough, Ontario, where she was said to be “in some measure of distress after spending two days in prison, needed to shower and change and be with her family.”

As conditions of her pre-trial liberty, the court ordered that Mia surrender her passport to the RCMP, be confined to the province of Ontario and report to the RCMP at Atwell Drive in Etobicoke, which is close to the airport, once a month.

These conditions will be in place until the trial is concluded.

Sources on Thursday told the Chronicle that that a federal charge in Canada carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

However, as a `first timer’, the Guyanese national who has Canadian immigrant status since 1990, could if convicted face between two to five years’ imprisonment and deportation on completion of her prison time, it was pointed out.

The news of Mia’s arrest in Canada in addition to being reported in that country has also made headlines in the Caribbean.

Saturday May 24 , 2003