Private school janitor remanded over cocaine charge

A janitor at a private school in New Amsterdam was remanded to the New Amsterdam Prison yesterday after she was charged with the possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Onica Griffith, 36, of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to her by Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs Marcus in the New Amsterdam Magistrates’ Court.

It was alleged that around 8 am yesterday, police were on patrol at Stanleytown, New Amsterdam Berbice, when they observed Griffith walking and constantly turning back.

 Onica Griffith
Onica Griffith

The lawmen stopped her and a search revealed 3.5 grammes of cocaine in a transparent plastic bag in her right hand.

However, in court, Griffith related that she was walking on the backdam when the police vehicle stopped. She said she was stopped by the lawmen at the same time she saw “a thing” next to her foot, in the grass. She added that an officer asked if the “thing” belonged to her and she said no adding she tried to pick it up and the officers told her it was drugs. The woman concluded: “I did not have it in my possession”.

Prosecutor Phillip Sherriff objected to bail on the grounds of the nature of the offence.

Griffith is expected to return to court on July 29 for report.