A Linden man accused of having a quantity of cocaine and cannabis was yesterday remanded to prison by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The allegation against Eusi Sandy, 40, is that on May 8, at Mackenzie, Linden, he had in his possession 50 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. On the same day also, Sandy is alleged to have had ½ gramme of cocaine in his possession.
Initially, the miner pleaded guilty to the offences. After the prosecution related its facts to the court, Sandy said that he never had the illegal substances and neither was he found with illegal substances when searched by the police.
He, however, stressed that he wanted to enter a guilty plea to the charges, since he did not want to be “running, running to court every minute.”
The Magistrate, however, cautioned the accused, explaining to him that as a matter of legal principle, she could not accept his guilty plea unless he was willing to accept the facts of the prosecution. Sandy then said, “Not guilty.”
The prosecution is contending that on the day in question, at about 9:30pm, the police were on patrol when they observed the defendant acting in a suspicious manner. After police approached him and requested to search him, Police Corporal Venetta Pindar told the court. Sandy started running.
She said that the lawmen pursued him and after apprehending him and conducting a search, a black plastic bag containing items believed to be cannabis and cocaine was found concealed in his pants crotch.
The father of five, who lives at Wismar, Linden said that he is the sole breadwinner of his household and his reputed wife is expecting a child.
In objecting to bail, the prosecutor told the court that the accused is not a first time offender and had been previously convicted for a similar offence.
After listening to the case, the Magistrate remanded Sandy to prison. His matters were transferred to the Christianburg Magistrates’ Court for May 17.
