A labourer who told the court he uses marijuana to help with back pain due to his line of work was today charged with possessing 22 grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.
Twenty-one-year-old Keon Yhap of South Ruimveldt pleaded guilty with explanation to the charge which stated that on August 3, at Leopold Street, Georgetown, he had the marijuana in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Facts presented by Police Prosecutor Adduni Inniss stated that on the day in question at around 11:45 hrs, ranks from the Brickdam Police Station saw the defendant acting in a suspicious manner and requested to carry out a search.
The court heard an officer found a black plastic bag in the right side pocket of the defendant’s pants. A further search was carried out on the bag and leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be narcotics were found in several Ziploc bags.
The articles were then shown to Yhap and, when told of the offence, he admitted. He was then escorted to the Brickdam Police Station where he was charged with the offence.
The magistrate, after listening to the facts, asked Yhap if he would like to say anything and he replied, “Is my weed; I does use it to treat a medical condition.”
The magistrate then asked that a probation report be submitted. The probation officer late this afternoon told the court that Yhap is the eldest of five siblings, one being a special need child. Yhap is also said to be the sole breadwinner for his siblings, citing that his mother resides overseas.
Magistrate Isaacs, after listing to the probation officer, released Yhap on $10,000 bail and instructed him to make his next court appearance on September 23. She also instructed him to undergo counselling until the hearing and determination of the trial.
