Following a ganja bust, Bartica shop owner Fiona De Freitas was remanded on Wednesday on a charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
De Freitas, who appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to her. It is alleged that on November 15 at Bartica she had in her possession 114 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.
Prosecutor Stephen Telford, in giving the facts of the case, said that after the illegal substance was found investigations were carried out and De Freitas subsequently claimed ownership of the substance. She was later arrested and charged for the offence.
Attorney Peter Hugh, who represented De Freitas, said that on the day she allegedly committed the crime, she had packed a number of items from her shop into a vehicle to be transported to her home by an employee. The cannabis was found among the items.
According to Hugh, his client was not in the vehicle when the drug was found and is innocent of the charge.
He said that it was the driver and two other persons who were in the vehicle at the time when it was stopped by the mobile police patrol.
Hugh suggested that the illegal substance could have been placed in the vehicle by other persons.
Telford objected to bail and De Freitas was remanded to prison until November 24. The matter has been transferred to the Bartica Magistrates’ Court.
