One of two men accused of trafficking marijuana was fined $10,000 yesterday after he admitted to assaulting his alleged accomplice at a police station.
Kevin Velloza, 27, a miner, and Joel Amsterdam, 20, a mason, appeared at the George-town Magistrates’ Courts, where they were jointly charged with trafficking marijuana.
It is alleged that on January 25th, at First Avenue, Bartica, they had 1,454 grammes of marijuana in their possession for trafficking. They both pleaded not guilty to this charge.
Velloza was also charged with two other offences. It was alleged that on January 25th at the Bartica Police Station, while being held in custody in the lock-up, he unlawfully assaulted Amsterdam, so as to cause him actual bodily harm.
Velloza told the court that there was a scuffle between him and Amsterdam. He then confessed, “I did knock him and the police came and part we.”
According to the Police Prosecutor, while the two were at the prison lock-up, they had an argument and Velloza dealt Amsterdam a cut to the face and kicked him about his body. The police on duty went to the lock-up, where both men were being held. According to the prosecutor, Amsterdam was taken to the Bartica Hospital for treatment.
As a result of Velloza’s guilty plea, he was fined $10,000.
It was also alleged that on the same day and at the same location, Velloza made use of threatening language towards Amsterdam. He, however, denied the charge.
Both men were remanded to prison as the matters were adjourned until February 20th, when they are due to be heard at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.
