Magistrate Fabayo Azore yesterday sentenced two vendors to three years in jail after they were found guilty of having a small quantity of cocaine in their possession.
Richard Frisco, a father of two of Lot 829 East La Penitence and Mercy Andrew, a food vendor of Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD) were found guilty at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court 5 at the conclusion of a trial.
Frisco and Andrew were charged with having 12.5 grammes of cocaine but they had pleaded not guilty at their arraignment.
At a hearing scheduled for a decision yesterday, Magistrate Azore said having considered all the evidence given throughout the trial, she found that both Frisco and Andrew had knowledge of the illegal drug and that they had lied to the court from the inception. But after taking into consideration that they had a small amount and that they were both convicted over five years ago for offences of damage to property and break and enter, respectively, the magistrate gave the two defendants the minimal sentence attached to the offence. They were also each fined $10,000.
