NEW YORK, USA (AP) Reputed Jamaican gang leader Christopher 'Dudus' Coke yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges that he ran a massive drug ring in the eastern United States from his Caribbean stronghold, when he appeared in a Federal Court here.

Coke, 42, said to be the boss of the notorious Shower Posse gang, was sent to New York on Thursday under tight security after waiving his right to an extradition hearing.

NEW YORK, USA An unidentified woman claiming to be the aunt of reputed Jamaican gang leader Christopher Dudus Coke, hides her head as she speaks to reporters outside the US Federal Court in New York yesterday. He is a good person, said the woman about Coke, who earlier pleaded not guilty that he ran a massive drug ring in the Eastern US from his Caribbean stronghold. (Photo: AP)

Coke, wearing a blue inmate smock and speaking softly, entered the plea during a brief appearance in the Manhattan Federal Court. Asked by US District Judge Robert Patterson whether he understood the charges, the short and stocky defendant replied, "Yes, sir".

A defence attorney temporarily assigned at the arraignment told the judge Coke planned to hire another lawyer. Attorney Frank Doddato said after the hearing that he expected to represent Coke and would vigorously fight the charges.

"There's not going to be any leeway for compromise here," he said. A hearing was set for Monday to take up the matter of who would represent Coke.

Yusill Scribner, a spokeswoman for the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, told the Observer that Judge Robert P Patterson who will be hearing the case, is expected to set a schedule on how the case will proceed, when the proceedings resume Monday.

She said this will include a discovery process, the submission of legal motions, and a possible trial date.

But there were indications that the trial of Coke could be a long one.

Prosecutors told yesterday's arraignment that they would begin to turn over discovery materials to the defence on Monday, but that the process will likely take up to months because of the volume and nature of the material, some of which have to be obtained internationally.

In court papers, New York prosecutors said Coke conspired to distribute cocaine and marijuana throughout the eastern United States since 1994.

The indictment alleged that members of Coke's gang in Jamaica and their US counterparts "sold narcotics, including marijuana and crack cocaine, at Coke's direction". It said cooperators recorded phone conversations with Coke about shipments of drugs and handguns.

Gang members would buy firearms in the United States and ship them to Jamaica, the indictment says. "There, Coke would distribute the guns and cash as a way to support and increase his authority and power in Kingston, Jamaica and elsewhere," it added.

"Drug dealers in the US regularly sent cash and goods, including clothing and electronics, to Coke as 'tribute' payments, in recognition of his leadership and assistance," the papers said. The tribute payments also included firearms, the papers added.

Coke was captured in Jamaica on Tuesday, but not without a fight. After Jamaica's prime minister announced he would agree to a US request that the reputed gang leader be extradited, his armed supporters and government security forces clashed in the streets of Tivoli Gardens, leaving more than 70 people dead.

The nine-month stand-off became a political liability for Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who represents the Tivoli Gardens division in Parliament and whose governing party has long-standing ties to that community. He narrowly survived a no-confidence vote this month over his handling of the case.

On Wednesday, Coke agreed to waive his right to an extradition hearing. He said he was saddened by the deaths and hoped his departure would help his country heal.

"I take this decision for I now believe it to be in the best interest of my family, the community of western Kingston and in particular the people of Tivoli Gardens and above all Jamaica," Coke said in a statement released to the news media, his first public comments since the extradition request in August.

At his extradition hearing in Kingston, the Caribbean nation's capital, Coke expressed confidence that he would be found innocent and allowed to return to his family in Jamaica.

Coke faces life behind bars if convicted, but it is widely felt in legal and other circles here, that he will likely enter into a plea bargain which could see a reduction in his sentence.

Additional reporting by Observer correspondent Harold Bailey.