A fifty-year-old man  was jailed after being found with a quantity of cannabis while the police were conducting a search at his home and he later escaped from police custody as they were taking him  to the police station.

John Barker of 213 Middle Road, La Penitence, had pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking and  was sentenced to two years imprisonment and fined $10,000 when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Barker had admitted that on March 25, at his home in La Penitence, he was found with 2660 grammes of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking. He had also admitted that he had escaped from police custody while on his way to the police station.

“I dey trying fuh mek a living selling drugs,” stated Barker. He noted that it was unfortunate for him to be caught with the narcotics shortly after it was brought to his home. He said that he ran away while being taken to the police vehicle but he was caught several days after. He said that his wife had also been arrested and is currently in police custody.

Meanwhile, Prosecutor Munilall Seetaram stated that the police acting on information received went to Barker’s home on March 25 and conducted a search, where they discovered the narcotics in the presence of Barker and his wife.

Barker and his wife were arrested and told of the suspicion about  the narcotics. Seetaram said that while the two were being taken to the police vehicle to go to the police station, Barker escaped but was later apprehended. He was later charged for the offences.

The magistrate then ordered that Barker pay a fine of $10,000 and serve two years imprisonment.
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