A man was yesterday remanded to prison on a charge of possession of cannabis for trafficking after a court heard that he told lawmen he was only going to drop off the shipment.
But Desmond Rigby, of Sophia, told Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan that he made no such admission to police.
The charge against Rigby stated that on May 23, 2016, at 70 Kilometre Police Outpost, Cuyuni River, he had 173 grammes of cannabis in his possession for trafficking.
Rigby, who told the court that he services excavators, pleaded not guilty.
When granted the opportunity to explain what occurred on the day in question, a tearful Rigby told the court that prior to his arrest, he was standing under a bus shed, which is located in front of the police station, awaiting a vehicle. He added that he observed four other men standing behind him as he placed his bag on the bench.
Sometime after, he said, a police officer approached and announced that he was conducting a search. He recalled telling the officer it was not a problem.
He said during the search, the officer picked up his bag and the alleged drugs were found. The officer then asked who the owner of the bag was and according to Rigby he told him he had no knowledge of the drugs. He added that he was told by the officer that it was he that they were going to hold for it. Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers told the court that on the day in question Rigby was found with a blue bag which contained leaf, seeds and stems. He further stated that the defendant made an oral statement, confessing that, “Officer, I just going and drop off this fine shipment.” Despite Rigby loudly denying that he made the oral statement or had possession of the narcotics, he was remanded to prison by the Chief Magistrate.
The matter will be called again at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on June 19.
