A man and his reputed wife who were charged with cultivating cannabis and possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking at Kimbia were each sentenced yesterday to four years imprisonment along with a $30,000 fine when they appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry sentenced 58-year-old Levi Wilson and his reputed wife Ena Lindi to four years behind bars on each charge along with a $30,000 fine, but the sentences will run concurrently.
The court heard that the couple on January 28 at Kimbia Village, Upper Berbice, cultivated cannabis, a prohibited plant.
Also on the same day, the couple had in their possession 1000 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.
After the charges were read the duo pleaded guilty to the offence. They agreed “I plant couple thing to smoke. I plant ganja…is true wha de police seh that I planting ganja.”
Wilson also told the court that he was beaten by the police officers and he is in severe pain.
After listening to the accused the magistrate ordered the prosecution to launch an investigation into the allegations by the defendant and also ordered that he be given medical attention.
In narrating the facts to the court, Prosecutor Jairam Luckhai said that on the said day, ranks were on patrol at Kimbia Village when they discovered the duo cultivating the prohibited plant.
Also 1000 grammes of cannabis was found in their possession.
Luckhai added that the couple was taken to the police station and the leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis were weighed in their presence and amounted to the quantity stated.
In handing down the sentence the magistrate took both the mitigating and aggravating circumstances into consideration.
