National footballer Sheik Kamal was yesterday charged with possession of ganja for trafficking, following a recent police raid of a camp in the Upper Mazaruni River area.
Kamal, 31, of 257 ‘A’ Field, Sophia, allegedly had 37 grammes of cannabis sativa in his possession for the purpose of trafficking on August 15.
The footballer denied the charge when it was read to him by Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The prosecution’s case is that Kamal was the only one at the camp at the time of the police search.
But attorney Mark Conway told the court that his client was a national footballer and had travelled to Kamarang for a football match.
Conway said the camp where the illegal item was allegedly found was at the time being occupied by 50 other persons.
He maintained that at no time was anything illegal found in his client’s possession. Advancing this as a special reason, the attorney requested reasonable bail.
Prosecutor Michael Grant substantiated the lawyer’s claim that indeed the illegal item was not found on the defendant but he maintained that Kamal was the only person present when the search was conducted and the find was made in his presence.
After hearing the case, magistrate Azore informed Kamal that in the circumstances he would be granted his pretrial liberty and his bail was set at $150,000.
His matter will be called again on October 7.
