A 47-year-old man was yesterday remanded to prison after being charged with possession of marijuana for trafficking.
The matter, which was heard before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, saw Steven Dunbar being read the charge which stated that on June 11 at the Itaballi police checkpoint, he had in his possession 27 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Attorney Darren Wade entered an appearance for Dunbar and he told the court that his client was among 11 other passengers travelling in a 4×4 pickup. He said the vehicle was stopped and the persons in it were all asked to step out and it was then searched by officers. The narcotics were allegedly found in the tray of the vehicle in a plastic bag. The plastic bag, according to the attorney, belonged to his client who had purchased medication and had placed it on the dashboard of the vehicle.
After the bag was found, the court heard that the defendant told the officers when asked, that the medication was his but he had no knowledge of the narcotics. According to Wade, none of the other 11 passengers were charged with the offence although the alleged narcotics was not found on the defendant.
Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers, however, told the court that his facts state that the narcotics were found in the plastic bag and the defendant admitted that it belonged to him. According to the prosecutor, Dunbar said that the marijuana was given to him by someone to take to Puruni.
Wade, in a bail application, asserted that the substance was not found on his client, there was multiple occupancy of the vehicle and the defendant is the father of four children.
This bail application was objected to by the prosecution who relied on the statement made by the defendant to officers.
The Chief Magistrate subsequently remanded Dunbar to prison saying that there were no special reasons to grant bail. The matter will be called again at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on June 22.
