A man on drug charges yesterday accused police of trying to railroad him by inflating the amount of cannabis on him at the time of his arrest.
Not guilty pleas were eventually recorded for Vernon Kryenhoff on charges of possession of cannabis and possession of a utensil used for smoking cocaine and he was released on $100,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
It is alleged that Kryenhoff, of 122 Uitvlugt Pasture, West Coast Demerara, on February 14, at Leopold Street, Georgetown, had in his possession 12 grammes of cannabis. It is also alleged that on the same day, at the same location, he had in his possession a utensil used for smoking cocaine.
He pleaded guilty to the possession of cannabis charge, for which he offered an explanation, while he pleaded not guilty to being possession of the utensil for smoking cocaine.
The magistrate, however, queried whether he understood that by pleading guilty, he could face three years imprisonment.
Kryenhoff subsequently told the court that he did not have 12 grammes of cannabis in his possession. The man, who admitted that he was previously charged with a similar offence but had gotten off, admitted that he had marijuana on him but insisted that it was not the amount stated in the charge against him.
Kryenhoff said that he was not in possession of all the cannabis that was found.
Some of it was found in a drain and some was found next to him, but it was not his, he said, while suggesting that a “junkie” must have
left it there.
Further, according to Kryenhoff, when the police took him to the station and weighed the substance he had on him, it amounted to only three grammes. However, he claimed that at the station, the police told him “this time yah goin’ down” and as a result he accused them of inflating the amount of cannabis that he was found with.
He also stated that he would not lie to the court because he would not want to waste the court’s time.
As a result of his claims, a not guilty plea was recorded for him by the magistrate.
Police Prosecutor Seon Blackman objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the offences and the punishment that they attract.
The magistrate later granted Kryenhoff $50,000 bail on each charge and the matters were adjourned until March 11.
