A former prison officer was this week sentenced to three years imprisonment after he was found guilty of trafficking in 38 grammes of marijuana on December 7, 2006.
Magistrate Geeta Chandan imposed an additional three years on Glen Lewis after he confessed to another charge of introducing narcotics into the New Amsterdam Prison. The sentences were handed down at the New Amsterdam Court, where the matter was postponed two weeks ago to allow defence attorney Charrandas Persaud, who was out of the jurisdiction, to be present.
Earlier, Inspector Satrohan Dayaram told the court that on December 7, 2006, Lewis reported for duty at the New Amsterdam Prisons and as he entered the jail compound through its main entrance, a search was conducted on him by a senior officer. The search uncovered a plastic parcel in his right sock.
The bag was opened in his presence and it was found to have contained a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis sativa. The illegal plant was weighed and marked, and when told of the offence he remained silent.
Lewis was thereafter arrested and taken to Central Police Station where he was charged.