An East Ruimveldt woman who the police have accused of being in possession of a quantity of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking was yesterday refused bail when she appeared in a city court, charged with the offence.
Melroy Hopkinson, 53, of 489 East Ruimveldt denied that she had 64 grammes of cannabis in her possession on March 24, for the purpose of trafficking.
Attorney Jed Vasconcellos appeared for the defendant in association with Nigel Hughes at the first hearing yesterday before the Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court 1.
The attorney, in a request for bail, advanced a special reason why his client should be given her pre-trial liberty. The alleged cannabis, according to Vasconcellos was found in a shop the woman operates but he highlighted that other persons also have easy access to the shop which is located some distance away from the house in which she resides.
In addition, counsel said, Hopkinson is 53 years old and is the mother of two sons. The woman also cares for her elderly mother who lives with her, he added.
But Prosecutor Bharat Mangru told the court that this was not sufficient grounds for bail to be granted and objected.
Members from the Narcotics Branch received information which led them to the defendant’s shop, where they uncovered the illegal drug which was hidden in the ceiling of the shop during a search, the prosecutor said. He added that the shop could only be accessed by the defendant.
The prosecution’s objection was upheld and Hopkinson was remanded to prison until April 14, when her trial will commence before Magistrate Judy Latchman in Court 3.
