Paradise man granted bail over ganja trafficking

A man who was allegedly found with a quantity of cannabis in his possession was granted bail yesterday when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Thirty-four-year-old Jermaine Semple of 26 Paradise, East Coast Demerara pleaded not guilty to the charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

It is alleged that on January 14, Semple had in his possession 13 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.
Semple’s lawyer applied for bail for him on the grounds that his client is a former mining officer from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and if the defendant was granted bail he would return to court.

The prosecution made no objection to the bail application but stated that Semple had given the police an address in Paradise, East Coast Demerara and they were not certain as to where he really lives.

Semple’s lawyer then informed the court that he had made a mistake giving the Festival City address and that 26 Paradise, East Coast Demerara is Semple’s true home.

He noted that the Festival City address is another home that his client shares with his girlfriend.
The magistrate subsequently placed Semple on bail in the sum of $45,000 and ordered that he return to court on February 6.