Despite pleading his innocence to a charge of drug trafficking, a taxi driver was remanded to prison yesterday after the police alleged that he admitted to law enforcers that he was only hustling “a lil weed” after they made the discovery.
Mark Prince, 34, of 169 James and Curtis streets, Albouystown vehemently denied charges of drug trafficking and unlawful possession of ammunition that were read to him by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court 1.
The first charge alleged that on June 3rd, at James and Curtis streets, Prince had 1.269 kilogrammes of cannabis in his possession.
On the same day at the same address, the police say Prince also had six live .32 rounds in his possession, without being the holder of a valid firearm licence.
According to Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves, on the day in question at about 5:45AM, ranks from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) went to Prince’s Albouystown residence and conducted a search. Gonsalves said the police unearthed the ammunition and the narcotics, which were hidden under a floorboard, the prosecutor said.
But Prince contested the prosecution’s facts and pointed out that he lives in a yard with about 46 persons and the charge was only brought against him.
He further accused the police of breaking his property. “They break down the whole place and then come and give me the charge… I don’t use drugs and I don’t do drugs, I does do taxi your worship,” Prince argued.
But the prosecutor reminded the court that the defendant admitted knowledge of the drugs to the police. “Officer, I done with crime. Is just lil weed I hustling now,” Gonsalves reported Prince as telling police.
Bail was refused and Prince was remanded to prison. He will make his next court appearance on June 15th before Magistrate Ann McLennan in Court 2.
