THUNDER BAY — Three GTA men facing charges related to a February drug investigation at a city motel have agreed to a 12-month common law peace bond.
After signing into the peace bond at a Dec. 17 court appearance, drug trafficking charges against Jaheim Barriner, 19, Amon Chhetri, 21, and Udomsak Khotcharat, 21 were withdrawn by an Ontario court judge.
Thunder Bay police had initially charged all three men with multiple counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime following an investigation into drug-trafficking activity on February 29 at a motel on Cumberland Street.
When police arrived, they found several individuals, drugs and cash inside a motel room.
Federal crown prosecutor Misbah Haque told the court during Thursday’s court proceeding, the case was set to go to a four-day trial in January but after reconsidering the Crown's position on the case, decided to dispose of the matter through a common law peace bond.
“No one is taking responsibility for those drugs and the Crown isn’t alleging that those drugs belong to any particular individual,” Haque said on Thursday, Dec. 17.
Under the peace bond agreement which is effective immediately, each individual is not to contact or communicate with each other and three other youth related accused.
“The Crown is concerned that association of these individuals can give rise to a breach of the peace and for that reason, the Crown is seeking a peace bond respecting those individuals,” Haque said.
Barriner, Khotcharat and Chhetri each pledged $500 without deposit for the common law peace bond. If they breach their conditions, they could be required to pay this amount to the courts.
The Crown also requested a forfeiture order for funds seized during their arrest.
Chhetri was ordered to forfeit $3,940, Barriner must forfeit $3,800 and Khotcharat must forfeit $3,830.
