Lodge youth remanded on ganja charge

A Lodge man was yesterday remanded to prison after police allegedly discovered a quantity of narcotics in his pocket during a search.

Akeel Hatton, 20, of 237 Lodge Housing Scheme, appeared before Magistrate Annette Singh in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court 11.

The charge against Hatton alleged that on June 17, at Hill Street, Lodge, he had in his possession 126 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

 Akeel Hatton
Akeel Hatton

He pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutor Gillian Simmons objected to bail citing the seriousness and prevalence of the offence.

She said that the police were on patrol duty when they stopped the defendant and carried out a search on his person.

Further, she alleged that the cannabis was found in the defendant’s left side pants pocket.

But Hatton’s attorney pleaded for reasonable bail to be granted to his client, while he argued that the defendant was in the presence of many other persons when the police allegedly uncovered the drug.

However, the magistrate upheld the prosecution’s objection and the defendant was then remanded to prison.

He will again appear in court on July 3.