A miner, accused of ganja possession, was yesterday remanded to prison after a court heard he had claimed ownership of the box in which the drug was found.
Kevin Peters, 30, of 35 John Street, Campbellville, appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on a charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.
It was alleged that on August 8, at Itaballi, Mazaruni, he had in his possession 1.160 kilogrammes of cannabis. He denied the charge when it was read to him.
The prosecution’s case is that Peters was travelling along with other passengers in motor vehicle GKK 5980 when it was stopped for a routine check at the Itaballi checkpoint.
According to prosecutor Gordon Mansfield, the passengers were asked by police to disembark with their belongings and ranks subsequently conducted a search. The court heard that during the search, a black bag was seen by the ranks containing biscuits in the tray of the vehicle.
Mansfield said that the passengers were asked whose bag it was and the defendant owned same. It was later searched in his presence and the illegal substance found, leading to his arrest.
Peters’ attorney, George Thomas, however, said that at no time did his client claim ownership of the bag nor was there anything linking him to it.
The multiple occupancy of the vehicle in which the drug was found, Thomas further argued, constituted special circumstances for bail.
He said too that his client is the father of a two-month-old child and posed no risk of flight.
But Mansfield told the court that the police are in possession of statements by other witnesses which substantiate that the man claimed ownership of the bag in which the drugs were found.
Peters was subsequently informed that he would be remanded to prison.
His matter will be called again on September 11.
