A man was refused bail on Monday on drug charges after a court heard that he was allegedly held by police with a small quantity of cannabis and then took them to his home where they found a lot more.
Ohyama Gomez, 29, of 111 Miles, Mahdia and 79 Seaforth Street, Campbellville is charged with both possession of narcotics and possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.
He pleaded not guilty when both charges were read to him by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court 1.
The first charge states that on February 6, at Noitgedacht Public Road, he had in his possession 11 grammes of cannabis. It is also alleged that on the same day, at Mahdia Airstrip, Essequibo, Gomez had in his possession 235 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.
His attorney did not make a bail application while acknowledging that there is no special reason for consideration. She added that the circumstance of the second charge is that after police found 11 grammes of cannabis on Gomez, they asked him to search his home, where the other 235 grammes were found. However, the attorney said the cannabis found at her client’s residence does not necessarily indicate that he had knowledge about it or that it belongs to him since he is not the only person living there. Police Prosecutor Michael Grant told the court that police ranks were on duty at the Noitgedacht Public Road when they conducted a search on Gomez, who was riding a motorcycle. They found 11 grammes of cannabis on him and he was subsequently taken into custody. Later, during a search of his bedroom, another 235 grammes were found, he said, while noting that the room appeared to be only accessible to Gomez, since he had the key to open the room to allow the police access.
Grant added that when Gomez was being cautioned, he said, “Officer, give me a chance.”
Gomez was remanded to prison and the case was transferred to the Mahdia Magistrates’ Court for April 4.
