A mechanic was yesterday remanded to prison after he was charged with being in possession of 3.5 pounds of cannabis, which police say they found in a bucket.
Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan read the possession for trafficking charge to Slevin Lawrence, which stated that on September 2nd, 2018, at Issano Landing, Middle Mazaruni, he had 1625.2 grammes (equivalent to 3.5 pounds) of cannabis for trafficking.
Lawrence was not required to enter a plea to the charge.
Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that on the day in question, Lawrence was a passenger who disembarked at Issano Landing on a jet boat. He was later escorted to the Issano Police Station, where a search was conducted on his person but nothing of evidential value was found. The prosecutor noted that a search was then conducted on a five-gallon bucket, which contained engine grease, and three parcels, containing a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems were found hidden among the contents.
Mansfield further told the court that an oral statement was given by the accused.
The defendant’s attorney, Clyde Forde, later urged the court to grant his client bail. According to the attorney, his client had three boxes which had his name on it. Those items, the attorney stated, were searched and nothing of evidential value was found. He asserted that the bucket with the drugs had another person’s name on it and did not belong to the defendant.
Bail was, however, denied, and the accused was remanded to prison. He is expected to make his next court appearance at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on September 20th.
