Maxine Cecelia Bax, the grandmother who the police said was found with cocaine concealed in the seat and back pouch of her wheelchair was yesterday remanded to prison.
A US citizen, Bax, 64, denied the charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking when it was read to her by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Bax is alleged to have had 9.490 kilogrammes of cocaine in her possession.
The woman, who uses a wheelchair, appeared visibly distressed and ill. In a feeble voice, she told the court that she had no idea that the illegal substance was in her wheelchair or that she was carrying drugs. She said the police told her that she was carrying drugs after which she was informed that charges would be laid. “I don’t know anything about this [the charge], that’s what they told me; and then they told me that I’m charged; but I don’t know anything,” she said repeatedly, while adding that she has no reason to be involved in illegal activities.
According to Bax, who gave her address as 61 Eastern Parkway, New York City, she recently came to Guyana to visit family friends because of their hospitality towards her. She added that she never expected things to end this way.
The weeping woman, who was unrepresented by counsel, said she had no money and no family members here to assist her.
Bax told the court that her family in the US had warned her about the family friends she was here to visit and about being careful while in Guyana.
Prosecutor Lionel Harvey told the court that on the day in question the police, acting on certain information, intercepted motor car HB 8912 at Garden of Eden on the East Bank Demerara (EBD) and uncovered nine parcels of powdery substance believed to be cocaine. When asked by the acting Chief Magistrate where the alleged substance was found, Harvey said it was concealed in the seat and back pouch of the woman’s motorised wheelchair.
Harvey said that the accused and the substance were then taken into the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) where the substance was examined, tested and amounted to the quantity of cocaine mentioned in the charge.
He subsequently requested that the senior citizen be remanded to prison as no special circumstances existed to show why she should be granted pre-trial liberty.
He firmly noted that he was bound by legislation when it came to the issue of bail.
Bax, who had to be lifted out of the courtroom by ranks of the CID, was ordered to return to court on February 7 for the commencement of her trial.
Police in a press release said that Bax was on her way to the airport when the discovery of the cocaine in the wheelchair was made.
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud said the vehicle was stopped on the EBD after the police received a tip-off and set up a roadblock to intercept it. The woman was arrested along with another person who was in the vehicle and following investigations, two other persons were arrested.
Bax alone has been charged.
