Prisoner caught with ganja, cigarettes gets 50 months

Ronald Armstrong, who is facing proceedings for a rape charge, has officially joined the ranks of inmates at the Camp Street prison after being found guilty of having a quantity of marijuana and cigarettes in his possession at the jail.

Armstrong, 27, was yesterday sentenced to 50 months in prison after he was found to be in possession of 181 grammes of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking in prison and of conveying 32 packs of cigarettes within the precincts of the prison.

Armstrong was sentenced at the Georgetown Court by Magistrate Judy Latchman after the remaining two witnesses testified at his trial.

These witnesses were also inmates of the prison and they claimed that Armstrong was being victimised by the prison officer who found the illegal substance in his possession.

According to Latchman, the evidence offered for the defendant was useless as she believed it to be testimony of convenience as opposed to facts. She stated that the court would instead place weight on the testimony offered by the prison officers who recounted the events of May 7th, when the illegal substance was found.

Latchman further said that considering the testimony given, the court found that the circumstances satisfied the criteria for the charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking.

According to the charge, on the said day, Armstrong was found to be in possession of 181 grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking in the Camp Street Prison as well as 32 packs of cigarettes. According to the testimony offered by Prison Officer Stewart, the substance was hidden in two parcels, which were duct taped and concealed in the pockets of a pair of pants, in a bag of clothes.

In his final defence, Armstrong claimed that the bag of clothes was not his.

Armstrong, who worked in the interior, currently has a pending charge of carnal knowledge in another court.