A mother of three who is accused of having a quantity of cocaine in her possession was yesterday remanded to prison when she appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The allegation is that on September 24 at 190 Second Street, Grove, East Bank Demerara, Coretta Roberts had in her possession 3.4 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
The 32-year-old woman pleaded not guilty to the charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking when it was read to her by the acting chief magistrate.
Attorney-at-law Peter Hugh who represented the defendant told the court that though the illegal substance was found in his client’s home, she was not the only one sharing space in the building at the time and the narcotics could have been the property of someone else.
In his application for bail on his client’s behalf, Hugh said that Roberts has no previous convictions, poses no risk of flight, has a fixed address and has been cooperating with the police in their investigations.
In giving the facts of the case, Oswald Massiah, Special Prosecutor of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) related to the court that on the day in question, the cocaine was found in the defendant’s home. He said that she was later told of the offence committed and admitted.
Hugh was unable to secure bail for his client and she was remanded to prison. Her matter was transferred to the Providence Magistrate’s Court for October 1 for reports, fixtures and the commencement of the trial.
Meanwhile, in another incident, a man accused of having a quantity of cocaine in his possession at the same Grove address, was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared before the acting chief magistrate.
It is alleged that on September 24 at 190 Second Street, Grove, East Bank Demerara, Andrae Archer of 343 Diamond, East Bank Demerara had in his possession 36 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
The 47-year-old welder pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Attorney-at-law Adrian Thompson who represented the defendant told the court that the narcotics were not found on his client. The defence counsel said further that his client was only visiting Roberts’ yard at the time of the discovery by CANU officers.
However, Massiah, in his address to the court, said that not only was the cocaine found in the defendant’s possession but Archer was also the supplier of the illegal substance. The special prosecutor added too that the cocaine was found in Archer’s crotch.
The father of six was later denied his pretrial liberty. His matter was transferred to the Providence Magistrate’s Court for October 1.
