PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Two regional players accused of marijuana possession entered not-guilty pleas when they appeared in the Port-of-Spain 10th Court yesterday.
Trinidad & Tobago batsman Runako Morton and Leeward Islands all-rounder Tonito Willett were allegedly held last Friday with 407 grams of marijuana with an estimated street value of close to US $680.
Morton and Willett reappeared before Magistrate Debby-Ann Bassaw, following their release on Tuesday after posting cash bail of close to US $3,400.
They had their passports returned to them, following an application from their lawyer Rajiv Persad.
The two players had been ordered to surrender their passports on Monday when they first appeared in court charged with the offence, but the State prosecutor did not object to the passports being returned.
The matter has been adjourned until June 17.
Morton and Willett had been picked-up by police following a routine traffic stop last Friday, following the first day of the WICB Regional first-class match between T&T and Leewards at Queen’s Park Oval, where they were members of the opposing sides.
Nevis-born Morton, who resides in T&T with his T&T-born wife and three children, was playing in his first season for his adopted home, after playing in previous years for the Leewards.
Fellow Nevisian Willett is the elder son of former West Indies off-spinner Elquemedo Willett.