By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

NINE men charged on Tuesday in connection with the confiscation of nearly $500,000 worth of marijuana in Inagua will return to court today.

The matter involving the four Bahamians and five Haitians was adjourned by Chief Magistrate Roger Gomez yesterday until Deputy Magistrate Carolita Bethell returns to duty.

On Tuesday, when they were brought before the chief magistrate, only Haitian national Serge Pierre admitted guilt to the four drug charges he faced.

It was alleged that between April 3 and 4, he conspired with the eight other men to import and possess marijuana.

It was further alleged that the 23-year-old imported and possessed $459,000 worth of marijuana with the intent to supply.

After Pierre confessed, the prosecution announced it did not want to continue without a Creole interpreter as the accused's grasp of English is not very strong.

Pierre and his co-accused will now appear before Deputy Chief Magistrate Bethell in Court 8.

Pierre's Bahamian co-accused are: John Pintard, 52; Davidson Fertil, 31; Mannix Ospin, 39; and Cannon Cooper, 42.

The Haitian nationals charged are: Joseph Joseph, 58; Ezekiel Ferlin, 42; Oles Alfred, 39; and Nelson Claude, 37.

All eight pleaded not guilty to the charges.