A Zeelugt Housing Scheme woman and her son appeared before a city court yesterday charged with matters related to cannabis possession and cultivation, and simple larceny.
Chandanie Ramroop, 45, of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo was charged with cultivating cannabis at Doornhaag, Leguan on February 21. She denied the allegation.
The court was told by attorney Peter Hugh that Chandanie had been visiting her son’s residence on the Essequibo River island when the raid was conducted and they were arrested.
Her son, Rajin, 24, was read three charges. The first alleged that on February 21, at Doornhaag, he cultivated cannabis. The second alleged that on the same day and at the same place, he had seven grammes of cannabis in his possession. The third charge claimed that Rajin also on that same day at Doornhaag, stole a bicycle valued $24,000, property of Deonarine Raghubir.
He pleaded not guilty to all three charges.
According to Police Prosecutor Wineth Hubbard, police had gone to the house to investigate a report of simple larceny when the cannabis was discovered.
Hugh requested reasonable bail be granted to Rajin, noting that another person had been charged in the matter. That other person, the court later learned, is the common-law wife of Rajin, Ashminie Persaud.
It was related to the court that Persaud is currently under police observation at a hospital in Leguan. The woman, it was said, was taken in for treatment the day after her arrest.
Chandanie was granted bail in the sum of $70,000 by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, while Rajin was placed on $25,000 bail for the narcotics possession charge, $20,000 for the charge of simple larceny and $70,000 for cultivating a prohibited plant.
Persaud’s matter has been adjourned to today at the Leguan Magistrate’s Court, while Chandanie and Rajin are expected to make an appearance at that court on March 24.
Meanwhile, Vishal Masihdas, 20, of Blenheim, Leguan, made an appearance shortly after the Ramroops, where he denied stealing a bicycle from Rajin on February 19, at Doornhaag. The charge stated that the bicycle was the property of Chandanie Ramroop.
It was also alleged that Masihdas, on that same day, assaulted Police Officer Zafeer Zakier, while he was executing his duties, in an attempt to resist arrest. He denied that claim as well.
Prosecutor Hubbard having no objections to bail, the Chief Magistrate adjourned the matter to March 24, and transferred it to the Leguan Magistrate’s Court.
