No bail for men allegedly held with ganja
Two men were yesterday remanded to prison by a city magistrate after they each denied a charge of one cannabis possession.
The courtroom of Magistrate Annette Singh heard that on October 20, at Georgetown, Dwayne McFarlane, 21, of Lot 5 Camp Street, Georgetown, had in his possession 250 grammes of cannabis for trafficking. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
It was also alleged that on October 20, at Georgetown, Alex Bourne, 30, of North Ruimveldt, had in his possession 15 grammes of cannabis. Bourne also pleaded not guilty to the charge that was read to him.
Police Prosecutor Julian Simmons objected to bail for both men, while citing the seriousness and the prevalence of the offence. According Simmons, McFarlane’s alleged drugs were found in a bin at a shop he was in at the time. Simmons said that during a police raid of the shop, McFarlane admitted ownership of the drugs by telling the police, “Sir, I don’t thief, I does hustle. Please for a chance.”
Bourne, Simmons added, was caught with the 15 grammes of the drugs in baggies in one of his pants pockets by the police.
Attorney Adrian Thompson, who represented both men, told the court that in the case of McFarlane the drugs were not found in his client’s possession but in a bin and him telling the police that he “hustles” was by no way an admission of ownership of the drugs.
Thompson said that in the case of Bourne, who was also caught with drugs in a shop, the cannabis was not found on him but near him on the floor. The lawyer said that the police decided to charge whoever was closest to the drugs.
However, after listening to the submissions, the magistrate remanded both men to jail. Their matters were adjourned to November 7 for disclosure and fixtures.