Former prison officer Akeem Vyphuis, who was caught smuggling marijuana into the Camp Street Prison, was yesterday sentenced to 56 months.
Additionally, Vyphuis was fined $418,500, which was the street value of the 279 grammes of cannabis he took into the prison compound.
Vyphuis, who police said had reported for duty at the Camp Street Prison with the illegal drug in his possession, was found guilty on Tuesday of possession of the narcotic for the purpose of trafficking.
City magistrate Judy Latchman had however informed him that sentencing would have been deferred to yesterday to facilitate the court being able to ascertain the street value of the drug.
The charge against Vyphuis, 22, stated that on July 14, at the Camp Street Prison, he had in his possession 279 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.
The prosecution’s facts stated that on the day in question Vyphuis reported for work via the main entrance of the prison compound carrying a black haversack and failed to subject himself to a search. The court was told that shortly after he was seen by a Cadet Officer throwing five parcels on the ground from the haversack.
Prosecutor Bharat Mangru had told the court that the illegal substance was in those five parcels. The police were summoned and he was later arrested and charged.
When the matter was first called on July 17 before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, Vyphuis pleaded not guilty to the charge.
His attorney Pamela De Santos was unsuccessful in retaining her client’s pretrial liberty after the prosecution successfully objected on grounds that she failed to advance special reasons. Vyphuis was subsequently remanded to prison.
At the time of his arrest, Vyphuis had been a serving member of the Guyana Prison Service for three years.