Mark McLean, who said he was framed on a narcotic-trafficking charge, was yesterday remanded to prison after a court heard that the drugs were found in the crotch of his pants.
Appearing before Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, McLean denied a charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking when it was read to him. The allegation against McLean is that on July 12, at Georgetown, he had in his possession 145 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.
The magistrate explained to the unrepresented McLean, who requested bail, that he must advance special reasons relating to the offence and not him, the offender, for bail to be considered. He told the court that he did not understand what was meant by special reasons. After being told again by the magistrate what it meant, the labourer said that he was “framed.” His story was that police ran into a yard, after which they accused him of ownership of the illegal substance.
According to McLean, other men were in the yard at the time but ran away after seeing the police who later arrested him. He said that nothing illegal “was found on me.” He gave his address as 427 Baramita Street, South Ruimveldt Gardens.
The prosecution, however, objected to the defendant’s bail application, with Sergeant Alexis David-Hosannah saying that the illegal substance was found in the crotch of the defendant’s pants. The magistrate then informed the accused that as a result of the differing accounts, he would be remanded to prison. The case is to be called again on July 26.
