A man who yesterday admitted to a city court that he is involved in the sale of cannabis, was yesterday sentenced to two and a half years behind bars for possession of the substance.
Charged before Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus was Alex Pickett.
The charge against Pickett, 42, stated that on June 9, at Iroma Backdam, Mazaruni River, he had 81 grammes of cannabis in his possession for trafficking.
Police prosecutor Adduni Inniss told the court that on the day in question, police were on patrol in the area when they observed the defendant acting in a suspicious manner. The police then requested that a search be carried out on the accused and during the process, a bulky black plastic bag was found in his back pants pocket. He was then cautioned, arrested and escorted to the Bartica Police Station.
Asked by the magistrate if what the prosecutor stated was true, the accused replied in the negative. He stated instead that the drugs did not belong to him. However, later in his statement to the court, the accused stated that when the police were about to search the area, he removed the cannabis that was in a hammock and tried to hide it.
Prior to sentencing, Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus stated that she was concerned about the impact the drugs would have on persons, but she also took into consideration the fact that the accused did not waste the court’s time. He was then sentenced to two and a half years behind bars and fined $50,000.
