A mother and daughter accused of selling a quantity of cocaine to a police officer were yesterday refused bail by Magistrate Fabayo Azore.
Forty-two-year-old Jacklyn Rodrigues and her daughter, twenty-two-year-old Aiesha Rodrigues, pleaded not guilty to the charge of trafficking in narcotics when they appeared in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court 5. It is alleged that on August 6th, at d’Urban Street, Georgetown, the Rodrigueses sold 296 grammes of cocaine to Police Corporal 20457 Dharmraj.
According to the prosecution, on the day in question, acting on information received, ranks from the police narcotics branch went to the Lot 54 d’Urban Street, Werk-en-Rust house, where the police officer purchased the cocaine from Aiesha in the presence of her mother, Jacklyn.
The marked money which was used during the transaction was recovered under a floorboard in a bedroom, while the remainder of the illegal substance was flushed down a toilet after the pair learnt of the police presence, the court was told.
“Is nah so much I sell he! They lie,” Aiesha, shouted loudly as she broke down in tears.
The woman, who the court was told is three-and-a-half months pregnant with her first child, started to complain of pain during the proceedings and she was comforted by her mother as they both stood in the prisoners’ dock. The young woman attempted to vomit after she asked for water, which was given to her by a rank. As a result, the magistrate ordered that the courtroom be cleared until Aiesha felt better and was ready to proceed with the matter. The case was recalled a few minutes later.
Attorney Paul Fung-A-Fat, who represented both defendants, made an application for reasonable bail to be granted. He said the Rodrigueses will attend their trial and are willing to hand over their passports until the end of the case.
But Prosecutor Deniro Jones objected to bail based on the nature and gravity of the charge. He also informed the court that no special reasons were provided by defence counsel for the pair to be granted their pre-trial liberty. Jones also informed the court that apart from Jacklyn being present when the cocaine was allegedly sold she also admitted to the police that she was the owner of the drugs her daughter had sold. As both the mother and daughter wept, the magistrate refused bail and adjourned the proceedings until August 10th.
