A 25-year-old miner accused of trafficking in marijuana was remanded to prison when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
Marlon Joseph of 261 Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden, pleaded not guilty to the charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking when it was read to him. It is alleged that on August 1 at Rockstone, he had in his possession 16 grammes of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.
Attorney-at-law Michael Sommersall appeared for Joseph and told the court that on the day in question, his client was in the company of two others who were earlier yesterday placed on station bail. He said that the men were heading to Rockstone from Linden and spotted a police patrol that opened fire on them from about 50 feet away.
A bag containing the item suspected to be the ganja was later found by the police patrol, Sommersall said. He told the court that the police alleged the bag belonged to Joseph.
But Police prosecutor Denise Griffith-Jacobis informed the court that her facts state that on the day in question, a police patrol, acting on information received, went to the Rockstone area where the three defendants were spotted. The prosecutor said that the men ran into the nearby bushes, and at the time Joseph was in “actual possession” of the haversack containing the illegal substance, which he was wearing on his back. She objected to bail being granted.
The magistrate, after listening to the two sides, remanded Joseph to prison. He will return to the Christianburg Magistrates’ Court on August 14.
