Businessman remanded on ganja trafficking charge

A businessman, allegedly found with small bags of marijuana, was yesterday remanded to prison after he appeared in a city court charged with possession of narcotics for trafficking.

The allegation against Raymond Clarke, 41, read that on January 15, at D’Urban Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, he had in his possession 26 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

It is alleged that at about 5:30am yesterday, police conducted a search and found a few Ziploc bags with leaves, seeds and stems in the area of Clarke’s toilet. He allegedly told lawmen, “I did just making a lil hustle.”

His attorney, Gordon Gilhuys, asked for reasonable bail to be granted.

But the prosecution objected to bail and added that no special reason was provided to the court for bail to be granted.

Bail was refused and the matter was adjourned to February 19.

Meanwhile, two other men who were held for marijuana possession were each fined $3,000 and ordered to perform community service for the next six months after they pleaded guilty.

Corwin Prescott, a desk clerk, and Damian Carter, a clothes vendor, both pleaded guilty to the charges that were read to them in a Georgetown court.

Prescott had 1.6 grammes of cannabis in his possession, while Carter had 1.8 grammes.

When Carter was asked what he was doing with the illegal substance, he said, “I am a Rasta man.”

Prescott was ordered to perform community service on Sundays, while Carter will perform community service on Saturdays, beginning from this week.

Another, Junior Camacho, was charged and placed on $50,000 bail also after he denied that he had a utensil used in connection with smoking marijuana.

The charge states that on January 15, Camacho had the pipe in his possession. He is to return to court on February 19.