A man who admitted having in his possession ganja for trafficking was sentenced to prison and fined while his uncle and aunt denied the charge when the trio appeared at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Owen Simmons, his reputed wife Harriet Alleyne and her nephew, Junior Johnson all of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara were jointly charged with the possession of 29.5 grammes for the purpose of trafficking. Johnson admitted to the charge and was sentenced to three years imprisonment and fined $30,000 by Magistrate Fazil Azeez. Simmons and Allenye both denied the charge and Simmons was remanded while Alleyne was granted bail in the sum of $75,000.
According to the facts on the case, last Tuesday at Stewartville, WCD, Johnson had in his possession 29.5 grammes of the drug for the purpose of trafficking. Police acting on information received, conducted a search on Simmons’ house and a white pillow was discovered under a table in the sitting room. When it was opened in the presence of the defendants a small black bag was observed. The black bag was then opened and 12 transparent plastic bags and 17 paper parcels containing the suspected cannabis was discovered. The defendants were then told of the offence, arrested and charged.
Johnson admitted to the charge and was fined and sentenced by the magistrate while the couple denied the charge. Simmons told the court that the bag was found outside and not in the home. He stated that the compound is frequented by lots of people as there is a grocery store there. He further informed the magistrate that “it is a fact that we smoke. I am a Rastafarian, we do indulge”. He stated that it was their religion. He told the magistrate that they hadn’t done anything criminal like using guns and robbing people saying “see what’s going on around this place; it’s not easy for anybody”. Alleyne, pleaded for bail to be granted to her saying that she had four children, the youngest of whom is two years old without anyone to look after them. She however admitted to having a matter involving possession of five grammes of cannabis in the same court.
After listening to them the magistrate remanded Simmons to prison and granted bail to Alleyne while Johnson was handed the sentence. The couple will return to court on April 5 at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.
