Drugs Sou Sou (DSS) founder Kerron Clarke has made his first court appearance in relation to two money laundering charges.
Guardian Media understands that Clarke, of Kathleen Warner Drive, Phase One, La Horquetta, appeared virtually before Chief Magistrate Maria Busby-Earle-Caddle yesterday.
Guardian Media understands that one charge relates to Clarke as an unlicensed moneylender, allegedly receiving criminal property in the form of a television valued at $2,000, which represented an interest payment on a loan he gave to a man.
That offence is alleged to have occurred between May 2019 and February 8, this year.
Clarke, a member of the Defence Force, was arrested after police raided his home, which also serves as DSS’s office, last Saturday.
Last September, officers of the Financial Investigations Branch raided the location and seized close to $22 million. The money was allegedly returned by police without the knowledge of investigators.
During a second raid, $7.7 million was seized. DSS’s operations were put on hold after police obtained an order to detain the money pending further investigations.
Clarke, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, has promised to honour his debts under the DSS when the seized money is released to him.
Clarke’s legal team is being led by Senior Counsel Sophia Chote. He is expected to reappear in court on February 18.