Derrick Arjune, 50, said to also be an activist for Guyana's main opposition party, the PNC/R, was nabbed outside the courtroom after charges were dropped against his 18-year-old client, whose family had filed a complaint against the lawyer in July for being "repeatedly unavailable and inaccessible," officials said.

Arjune is charged with offering a false instrument and practice of law by an attorney who has been disbarred or suspended.

Arjune's teen client was arrested on July 10 at Kennedy Airport, USA with two rum bottles filled with liquid cocaine, sources said.

The teen's family complained to the Queens District Attorney about Arjune's apparent lack of interest in the case and it was soon found he had neglected several other clients, sources said.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2003