A mini-bus conductor, who allegedly attempted to sell cocaine to a policeman in July, appeared yesterday in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on a charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking and was remanded to prison by Magistrate Hazel Octive Hamilton.
James Mc Kenzie of Lot 17 Pike Street, Kitty pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him. The court was informed yesterday that when the matter was first called last month, Mc Kenzie was not present and the case took so long to be brought before the court because advice had to be sought from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
It is alleged that on July 15 at Kitty, Mc Kenzie had a half gramme of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Attorney-at-law Vic Puran in Mc Kenzie’s defence told the court that there are special circumstances for his client to be placed on bail.
According to Puran a party of police went to Mc Kenzie’s home “demanding money with menace.” He made a report to Eve Leary by telephone and the following day he went in person.
Puran said that his client, a father of three, was placed on $20,000 station bail and “those policemen who were involved in this demanding have been charged departmentally.”
The defence counsel added that the allegation is that Mc Kenzie sold half a gramme of cocaine to either a policeman or a police decoy, adding that this transaction never entered the police records until a complaint was made by Mc Kenzie.
Puran said that his client has been reporting to the police station.
The magistrate after listening to Puran said that she was told that Mc Kenzie could not be located.
She pointed out that her court clerk had been in possession of the case jacket since November 27.
Puran in response said on that very day his client went to the police station and was told by the police that they were not ready for him.
Police prosecutor Desiree Fowler objected to bail, stressing that this offence is possession for the purpose of trafficking.
She informed the court that Mc Kenzie attempted to sell the drugs not realizing that the person was a policeman. She said that after he realized this, he escaped but subsequently went to the police. Fowler added that he was placed on (station) bail because advice had to be sought in the matter.
After listening to both parties, the magistrate refused bail and set the trial date for February 6 next year.
