Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan today remanded a man to prison after he was slapped with a narcotics trafficking charge.
Thirty-seven-year-old Paul Roberts, a vendor of 99 Second Street, Alexander Street, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
It is alleged that on July 6 at Third Avenue, Bartica, he had in his possession 468 grams of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. The unrepresented man pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to him by the magistrate.
Facts presented by Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield stated that on the day in question, police on patrol saw the defendant acting in a suspicious manner. Hence, they requested to carry out a search on him.
An officer searched a bag that Roberts had in his possession and leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be narcotics were found in a green haversack.
The defendant was then escorted to his home where officers found two brown parcels. The parcels were then opened in his presence and more leaves, seeds, and stems were found.
When told of the allegation, he told the officers he purchased the marijuana to smoke it and make tea.
The Prosecutor objected to bail being granted to the defendant on the grounds of the prevalence of the offence and the penalty the charge attracts. The Chief Magistrate, after listening to the facts, remanded the defendant to prison.
He was instructed to make his next court appearance on August 2 at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.
