Christopher Thomas, STAR Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A German woman who pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine hidden in a handbag and a pair of shoes was remanded until tomorrow when she will be brought back before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court for sentencing.

Adele Scholfield, of a Frankfurt address in Germany, pleaded guilty to possession of, dealing in, and attempting to export two and a half pounds of cocaine, when she was brought before the court on Friday.

The court was told that on December 31, 2014, approximately 4:45 p.m., Scholfield was preparing to board a flight to Frankfurt, from the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, when her luggage was subjected to a routine search.

Powdery substance

During the search, a handbag and a pair of shoes were taken from one of Scholfield's bags. The shoes were cut open and two packages with a white powdery substance were found inside the soles, while a powdery substance was found inside the handbag after it was pierced open. Scholfield was subsequently arrested and charged.

On Friday, Scholfield's attorney, Tom Tavares-Finson, asked presiding magistrate Carolyn Tie to be lenient in determining his client's sentence, citing her cooperation with the authorities.

"Upon her arrest and interview, she cooperated fully with the authorities in terms of providing contact information for the persons she was staying with, and she also provided photographs," said Tavares-Finson. "She has offered a plea here for the first time, without wasting the court's time," the attorney continued.

"I would need time to peruse these documents," RM Tie replied, in reference to documents attorney Tavares-Finson had supplied moments earlier, pertaining to Scholfield.

"You will be brought back here on Tuesday," the magistrate addressed Scholfield, before instructing that the defendant be taken back into police custody.