Two Berbice constables were yesterday remanded to prison at the Whim Magis-trate’s Court, after Magistrate Charlyn Artiga denied them bail.
The constables, Bharat Shattarpaul, 28, of Lot 47 Princeton, Corriverton and Delroy Fraser, 24, of Lot 31-32 Belladrum Village, West Coast Berbice, who were attached to the Central Police Station, both pleaded not guilty to the charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.
Shattarpaul was represented by attorney- at- law Chandra Sohan who also entered an appearance for Fraser as his lawyer was not present.
Sohan in requesting bail for Shattarpaul told Magistrate Artiga that his client has suffered from bronchial asthma for the past ten years. He also argued that if his client is remanded he might be placed in custody with prisoners he would have had dealings with in the past. Sohan also told the Magistrate that his client was not a flight risk.
He further argued that his client was not present at the time his car window was broken by ranks to enter the vehicle in which the marijuana was found. He explained to the court, that according to Shattarpaul, he was on an assignment to transport an envelope to Whim, Corentyne on orders from the Deputy Commander of B Division, when he received a call from Commander of B Division, Errol Watts requesting his presence at the Central Police Station, New Amsterdam. Sohan stated that when Shattarpaul arrived at the station, his car window had already been broken.
Sohan also said that his client informed him that the second accused, Fraser had used his car for the entire day.
Meanwhile, Sohan in standing in for Fraser’s lawyer also asked that bail be considered for him.
Police Prosecutor Phillip Sheriff requested that bail be denied for both men based on the amount of marijuana discovered and the nature and prevalence of the offence. Sheriff also told the Magistrate that the facts of the case differ from what was presented by counsel.
Magistrate Artiga said that given the fact that both men were lawmen that was reason enough to refuse bail. She stated that Shattarpaul’s supposed medical condition can be treated from prison and that the defendants will be kept separately from prisoners they claim to have come into contact with in the past.
The matter was forwarded to the Chief Magistrate in Georgetown for reassignment and both men are expected to return to court on December 30, for reports. Shattarpaul when exiting the court held a white cloth over his head, while Fraser continuously lowered his gaze.
On Monday afternoon the two constables were placed under close arrest after five kilogrammes of marijuana was discovered in the trunk of Shattarpaul’s car, bearing the licence plate number, HC 3179.
According to information gathered, both constables were returning from Georgetown in a police bus, however, during their journey the men stopped and Shattarpaul had a conversation with a man carrying a parcel, whom he subsequently offered a “drop”. The man exited the vehicle somewhere in West Berbice without the parcel. The two lawmen then proceeded towards New Amsterdam.
Stabroek News was reliably informed that upon reaching New Amsterdam, Shattarpaul ordered Fraser to drive his car to Vryman’s Erven, New Amsterdam where the parcel was allegedly removed from the police bus and placed in the trunk of the car. The constables both returned to the Central Police Station with the vehicles.
However, upon receipt of information, the Division’s Crime Chief and other ranks were instructed to conduct a search on the constable’s car. The two constables who were present at this time claimed not to know where the keys for the car were. This resulted in a window being broken to gain entry to the car.
A search was carried out on the car and two heavily-wrapped parcels containing the marijuana were discovered in the trunk. The constables both denied having any knowledge of the marijuana, which was weighed in their presence and amounted to five kilogrammes.
