A handyman was today sentenced in absentia to three years in prison and fined $924,000, after he was found guilty of trafficking four pounds of marijuana.
Forty-two-year-old Richard Pillay of Melanie, East Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on July 16, 2019, at Norton Street, Lodge, he had in his possession two kilograms of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.
Pillay was on trial before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
This morning when the matter was called, the magistrate ruled that having considered the evidence led by the prosecution, she found sufficient evidence to prove that Pillay indeed committed the offence. As a consequence, she sentenced him to three years behind bars and imposed the fine.
Facts presented by the court prosecutor stated that on the day in question, police, acting on information went to a restaurant located at Norton Street Lodge, Georgetown, where they made contact with Pillay.
The court heard that a search was carried out on his possession, and the narcotics were found in a haversack. He was told of the offence to which he admitted ownership of the drugs.
Hence, he was arrested and taken to the station and charged. He was out on $75,000 bail, pending the hearing and determination of the trial.
