An Arakaka resident was on Monday granted $100,000 bail after he denied the possession of a quantity of cannabis that was found in a speaker box.
Vincent McIntyre, 41, is charged with having 175.5 grammes of cannabis for trafficking on December 6, at Skull Mountain, Arakaka.
When the charge was read by Chief Magistrate McLennan, McIntyre pleaded “guilty with explanation” to the charge.
The prosecutor told the court that on the day in question, at about 8.15 am, the police, acting on information, went to the defendant’s home, where they told him they were in receipt of information that narcotics were on the premises.
The court further heard that during the subsequent search, the police opened a speaker box, where they found several plastic bags with leaves, seeds and stems, suspected to be cannabis. The parcels were opened in the presence of McIntyre and he was cautioned.
He was later arrested and taken to the Arakaka Police station.
When granted the opportunity to speak, McIntyre told the court that he was given the speaker box by a man who visited his home on December 5 and asked him to keep it until the following day. The following day, he stated that the police went to his home and asked him about the speaker box, causing him to show them it. McIntyre noted that he told the officers that the box did not belong to him
As a result of his explanation, Chief Magistrate McLennan recorded McIntyre’s plea as not guilty, granted him his release on $100,000 bail and ordered that he report to the Arakaka Police Station every Friday until the completion of his trial.
The matter was then adjourned until February 6, when it will be called at the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court.
