A miner was yesterday fined $75,000 and ordered to perform four months of community services after he admitted to possession of 21.5 grammes of cannabis, which police said he had for trafficking.
Simon Shepherd, 20, of ‘B’ Field, Sophia, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Georgetown, where he was read the charge that on June 15th, 2018, at Aranka Landing, he had the cannabis in his possession for trafficking.
According to Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield, on the day in question, police ranks at Bartica Police Station were on a patrol at Aranka Landing, Cuyuni River, Essequibo, when they noticed the accused acting in a suspicious manner. As a result, a search was carried out on his person but nothing was found.
The police further conducted a search on a green bag that he was carrying and discovered a set of leaves, seeds and stems, suspected to be cannabis. He was then arrested and taken to the police station.
Shepherd pleaded guilty to the charge after it was read to him.
Subsequently, Chief Magistrate McLennan fined Shepherd $75,000 and ordered that he perform four months of community service, failing which he would be jailed for six months.
