The spouse of a Canadian man who was arrested within the Dominican Republic after he was accused of smuggling medicine says all fees in opposition to him have been dropped, however he stays caught there indefinitely.
Jane Wilcox and her husband, David Bennett, had spent per week at a resort within the Dominican Republic with two pals and have been on their approach house on March 7 when her husband was denied entry on the automated customs gate at a Punta Cana airport and brought to an interrogation room, she mentioned.
There, the couple from Burlington, Ont., have been proven a photograph of a bag they did not acknowledge, with a barely completely different identify on it: Davi Bennett as an alternative of David R. Bennett, the identify on her husband’s bag and all his journey paperwork, she mentioned.
Although they have been adamant that the bag did not belong to them, Wilcox mentioned her husband was charged with trafficking medicine into the Dominican. He was later launched on a $5,000 bail, she mentioned.
With the assistance of the household’s authorized staff and the RCMP, the costs in opposition to him have been withdrawn just a little over two weeks in the past, she mentioned, however he is nonetheless not allowed to return again to Canada.
“Our lawyer down there may be making an attempt to get in entrance of a decide, however nothing’s taking place and we simply really feel like we’re being forgotten and we do not know what else to do,” Wilcox mentioned in a telephone interview.
Earlier than Bennett can come again to Canada, there’s nonetheless court docket paperwork to be accomplished to verify the prosecutor has withdrawn the case, she mentioned, however there is a important court docket backlog within the Dominican Republic.
“They gave us a ten to fifteen day window for that, which we have been horrified by,” Wilcox mentioned, noting they handed that mark days in the past. “We’re pondering, cannot we let this harmless man get house?”
Wilcox mentioned the household has been in contact with the native Canadian Embassy, World Affairs Canada and Karina Gould, their member of Parliament. Their lawyer has additionally contacted Jacqueline DeLima Baril, Canada’s ambassador to the Dominican Republic, requesting rapid intervention to get Bennett again to Canada, she mentioned.
However whereas Wilcox has been advised everybody’s doing every thing they will to assist, Bennett continues to be caught.
The household has about $80K in authorized charges, spouse says
World Affairs Canada and the Canadian Embassy within the Dominican Republic didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
Wilcox mentioned her household has been knowledgeable that the RCMP has made an arrest in Canada in connection to Bennett’s case. A spokesperson for the Mounties mentioned in an e mail that the drive cannot affirm or deny that an arrest has been made, however it’s “actively investigating” the case.
Wilcox mentioned the household has incurred roughly $80,000 in authorized charges and lodging prices, and that quantity solely goes up the longer Bennett is within the Dominican Republic.
She added that she acquired a textual content message from her husband Wednesday morning telling her he is reaching his “breaking level.”
“I am actually involved about him. His psychological and bodily well being is quickly deteriorating,” Wilcox mentioned. “We’re just below fixed stress.”
Wilcox mentioned she and Bennett have began trauma counselling, however mentioned they’ve “an extended highway” forward of them even after the case is resolved.
“I’ve to stay hopeful, but it surely’s sporting actually skinny,” she mentioned.
Source link