US National Sentenced to 5 Years, 3 Months of Jail :: Charter'97 :: News

September 3 the Central district court of Minsk sentenced the US citizen, director of the Belarusian representation of the educational program ACCELS Charles Periell to 5 years and 3 months of imprisonment in hard-labor colony with partial confiscation of property. The state accuser demanded 6 years of jail for Periell.

A 40-year old American national has been found guilty of illicit purchase, storage and sale of drugs, attempts to lead others to addiction and of hosting a drug-den.

However, the jury didn’t find any proof of his involvement in organized drug sales business. According to Periell, it was some guy called Petr who offered him marihuana on several occasions, including on the day of arrest June 21, 2001. Petr miraculously managed to escape arrest and police lost track of him.

Delivering his last statement to the audience, Charles Periell said that he recognizes his guilt only partially.

Charles Periell’s attorney Oleg Dubovets told BelaPAN that the verdict is too severe. According to the lawyer, they could have only proven Periell guilty of violating part 1 of article 328 of the Penal Code – purchase and storage of drugs without selling or repeated crime.