Baker remanded over ganja possession

- housemate fined, ordered to do community service

A baker accused of being found with over 15 grammes of cannabis in the crotch of his pants was yesterday remanded to prison, while a man who lives with him was fined and ordered to do community service after admitting to having a smaller quantity of the drug.

Appearing before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry was La Penitence resident Doodnauth Beharry, 29, who denied that on October 1 at his lot 195 Middle Road, La Penitence home he had 15.9 grammes of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

In an application for reasonable bail, attorney Mark Conway said that Beharry had no antecedents, and posed no risk of flight.

Doodnauth Beharry
Doodnauth Beharry

According to counsel, the alleged illegal substance was not found on his client’s person.

Prosecutor Michael Grant, however, objected to bail, while saying that the substance was found in Beharry’s crotch after police conducted a search on him.

Grant argued too that the lawyer failed to advance special reasons for bail to be considered.

After hearing the case, the magistrate informed Beharry that he would be remanded to prison. His matter was transferred to Court Three, where it will be called on October 6.

Meanwhile, Christopher Moonsammy, who lives at the same address as Beharry, was also arraigned on a marijuana possession charge and admitted to having 1.9 grammes of the illegal substance on October 1.

Prosecutor Grant when asked told the court that the facts were as stated in the charge after which no additional facts of what transpired on the day in question were presented.

Moonsammy was also represented by Conway, who begged the court for lenience.

Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry subsequently fined Moonsammy $3,000 and ordered him to perform six months of community service at the Narcotic Branch, Eve Leary, every Wednesday from 9 am to 4.30 pm, beginning next Wednesday.