A butcher was yesterday remanded to prison after he was accused of having a quantity of cocaine in his possession.
Andre Douglas, 41, of Lot 6 James Street, Albouystown, pleaded not guilty to the charge of possession of narcotics read to him by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court 1.
It is alleged that on June 15 at Tabatinga, Lethem, Douglas had in his possession 19 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. According to Prosecutor Bharrat Mangru, on the day in question, acting on information received the police went to a house located in Tabatinga, Lethem where five persons were seen standing under the house while the defendant was seen entering and subsequently came out. A search was then conducted in the toilet area of the said house and a transparent plastic bag was found containing the alleged cocaine. Douglas was arrested, told of the offence—he denied having any knowledge of the alleged illegal substance—and was charged.
Attorney Jerome Khan made an application for bail to be granted in a reasonable sum while stating that the police had victimized Douglas. Khan emphasized that his client was the only person charged, when there were five other persons present during the search. He pleaded with the court to grant bail while noting that the special reason for such is that the next court date for his client is September which is a few months away. Mangru objected to bail, stating that the special reason raised by the defence was not sufficient for bail to be granted.
The magistrate upheld the prosecution’s objection and bail was refused. Douglas is expected to make his next court appearance on September 7 at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court.
