A 19-year-old girl who allegedly laced her parents’ food with sleeping tablets in order to stage her own abduction so she could  benefit from a ransom was on Wednesday remanded to prison when she appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Amanda Rampersaud of 28 Geneive Canal, Number 1, West Bank Demerara (WBD) was charged jointly with Indranie Davechandlall with the offence of administering a drug with intent to facilitate the commission of an indictable offence.

It is alleged that between May 2 and May 3 at WBD, the duo deliberately and unlawfully caused Salina and Narish Rampersaud to be affected by an overpowering drug by putting sleeping tablets in their food so as to facilitate the indictable offence of abduction.

The teenager pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to her by the Acting Chief Magistrate.

Davechandlall who was not present in court when the charge was read is Rampersaud’s cousin.

Attorney-at-law Pamela De Santos who appeared in association with Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos represented Rampersaud and made an application for reasonable bail to be granted her client.

The matter was called to the bench and a lengthy discussion ensued.

De Santos was unable to secure bail for her client and Rampersaud was subsequently remanded to prison.

Her matter was transferred to the Wales Magistrate’s Court.