A father of three accused of having a quantity of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
The allegation is that on August 13 at Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, Keith Nigel Parker, 39, a fish shop owner, had in his possession 60 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
Parker pleaded not guilty to the charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking when it was read to him by the magistrate.
Attorney-at-Law Vic Puran who represented the defendant told the court that his client should never have been charged since there was no connection between him and the illegal substance. He said too that the building in which his client resides is occupied by several other persons.
“My Worship, my client has no nexus to the cocaine; additionally the building which he occupies is also occupied by several other persons. Yet only my client was charged,” Puran said.
The attorney then made an application that his client be admitted to reasonable bail on the grounds that he poses no risk of fight, has no previous convictions and has been cooperating with the police in their investigations.
Special Prosecutor Oswald Massiah of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) objected, however, to the bail application made by Puran.
Massiah in his response told the court that he disagrees with the arguments advanced by the lawyer and added that the issue of occupancy will be ventilated at the time of the trial.
Parker was subsequently remanded to prison until August 19. His matter was transferred to the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.
