Two friends who were busted with a quantity of marijuana, were today remanded to prison for the offence.
Twenty-four-year-old Joel Amsterdam and Kevon Velloza, 27, both appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
They both denied the charge which stated that on January 25, 2020 at First Avenue, Bartica, Essequibo Magisterial District, they had in their possession 1454 grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.
It was further alleged that on the same day and at the same location, Velloza assaulted Amsterdam so as to cause him actual bodily harm.
Facts presented by the court prosecutor stated that on the day in question, at around 10:15 hrs, both defendants were passing at the Bartica Police Station acting in a suspicious manner.
The court heard, officers asked to carry out a search and both men began running. The officers gave chase and were able to apprehend the men.
They were then arrested and taken to the station where a search was carried out on their possession and a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be narcotics were found in a black haversack.
While at the station, both men were placed in a lock-up and they were involved in an argument. It was then that Velloza dealt Amsterdam a cuff to his face and kicked him about his body.
Ranks then intervened and took Amsterdam to the hospital where he was treated for his injuries.
The Magistrate remanded both men to prison until January 20, 2020 when they will appear in the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.
In relation to the assault, Velloza was fined $10,000 or in default three weeks’ imprisonment
