Man nabbed with cannabis ordered to do community service

A man held by police with a gramme of cannabis was yesterday ordered to perform six consecutive Saturdays of community service at the Leguan Police Station beginning this Saturday.

Appearing before city magistrate Judy Latchman was Dereck Roopwah, who accepted that on September 2, at Leguan Village, Essequibo Coast, he had a gramme of cannabis in his possession.

When asked why he had the illegal substance, Roopwah told the court that he was walking on the road and saw the item, picked it up and placed it in his pocket.

The prosecution’s facts are that on the day in question the police were on mobile patrol duty when they observed Roopwah exiting a house known for selling cannabis.

The court heard from Prosecutor Michael Grant that Roopwah was approached by the lawmen and a search unearthed a brown paper parcel in his left pants pocket with what appeared to be the illegal substance. He was arrested and taken to the police station, where the substance was weighed in his presence, and amounted to one gramme.