Prison officer charged with taking ganja, cigarettes into NA prison

Gladwin King
Gladwin King

A New Amsterdam Prison Officer is now a member of the inmate population after being remanded to prison yesterday on a charge of possession of narcotics for trafficking and introducing a prohibited item into the prison.

Gladwin King, 39, a prison officer, of Lot 331 Fort Ordinance Housing Scheme, appeared before Magistrate Renita Singh at the Albion Magistrate’s Court.

The first charge against King stated that on October 3rd, at the New Amsterdam Prison, he had 1,032 grammes of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking. The second charge stated that on the same date at the New Amsterdam Prison, King introduced a prohibited article, that is, 19 packs of Pall Mall cigarettes.

The unrepresented man plead not guilty to both charges.

The police prosecutor noted that there is surveillance footage of King, fully dressed in his uniform, committing the crimes. The prosecutor objected to bail based on the nature and the gravity of the offence.

King, a father of six, was subsequently remanded to prison until October 26th, when a hearing is slated for the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.

King was arrested and handed over to the police in Berbice on Wednesday after prison authorities say he was spotted with parcels that were thrown over the prison’s fence.

In a press statement, Gladwin Samuels, acting Director of Prisons, noted that King allegedly conspired with prisoners to secure the items in the prison’s kitchen.

The statement said that a manager acted on information received and caused a search to be conducted, which led to the discovery of the items.

Samuels also claimed that the accused, in a telephone interview, admitted his involvement to him, while saying that the items were to be handed over to a specific prisoner.