Miner fined on ganja charge, bailed over wounding

Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry imposed a fine and community service on a 32-year-old miner who had ganja in his possession, and granted him $100,000 bail on a wounding charge, when he yesterday appeared in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

According to the facts of the case Compton Lynch was found with 1.6 grams of cannabis on his person when he went to make a report at the Imbaimadai Police Station. The man said that he intended to smoke the narcotic. Lynch was fined $3,000 and ordered to complete six months of community service.

The defendant was further charged jointly with 19-year-old Royston Austin of 44 Old Road, Bagotstown with unlawful wounding. The duo was accused of wounding Mark James to cause him actual bodily harm.

The court heard that the virtual complainant and the defendants were acquainted. They had had a verbal misunderstanding which led to a scuffle. During the scuffle, the VC and the defendants drew knives which resulted in James being hurt.

The prosecutor did not object to bail hut requested that it be set at a substantial sum. The magistrate then granted the defendants $100,000 bail each and ordered them to appear in the Kamarang Magistrates’ Court on December 19.