Former prison officer Akeem Vyphuis, who police said had reported for duty at the Camp Street Prison with 279 grammes of ganja in his possession, was yesterday found guilty of the offence and will be sentenced today.
City magistrate Judy Latchman announced the decision at the conclusion of Vyphuis’ trial yesterday after four witnesses who were called to the stand testified.
The magistrate informed Vyphuis, 22, that sentencing was being deferred to today to facilitate the court being able to ascertain the street value of the drug.
The charge against the man stated that on July 14, at the Camp Street Prison, he had in his possession 279 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.
The prosecution’s facts stated that on the day in question Vyphuis reported for work via the main entrance of the prison compound carrying a black haversack and failed to subject himself to a search. The court was told that shortly after he was seen by a Cadet Officer throwing five parcels on the ground from the haversack.
Prosecutor Bharat Mangru had told the court that the illegal substance was in those five parcels. The police were summoned and he was later arrested and charged.
When the matter was first called on July 17 before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, Vyphuis pleaded not guilty to the charge. His attorney Pamela De Santos was unsuccessful in retaining her client’s pretrial liberty after the prosecution successfully objected on grounds that she failed to advance special reasons.
Vyphuis was subsequently remanded to prison.
De Santos was not present at yesterday’s hearing. At the time of the offence, Vyphuis had been a serving member of the Guyana Prison Service for three years and resided at the Bachelors’ Quarters, at Kingston, Eve Leary.
