A man who was charged with having cannabis in his possession was released on bail after the court heard that the illicit substance was found in the ‘Blacka’ creek at Guyhoc Park.
Marlon Belle of Guyhoc Park, Tucville, was on Wednesday granted bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Courts.
It is alleged that on March 6, at Plum Park, Georgetown, he had in his possession 105 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.
He denied the charge and was placed on $40,000 bail.
The man’s attorney told the court that the illicit substance was found in the Blacka Creek in the Guyhoc Park area. The attorney said that Belle was intercepted by the police while he was on his bicycle. He further stated that his client, along with the bicycle, fell into the creek and that he began to drown because he can’t swim. The police then had to jump in and save him.
The court also heard that the man was arrested on Saturday and allegedly beaten with a piece of wood and a gun on Sunday. Then he was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital on Monday. According to the attorney, his client was discharged on Tuesday and the police picked him up and told him he would have to be at court on Wednesday since his 72 hours of maximum detention were up. The attorney said that Belle had injuries to his head, leg and about his body. He was limping in court and could be seen holding and massaging the parts of his body that seemed to be in pain.
The police prosecutor however, told the court that Belle was seen acting in a suspicious manner and upon observing the police, he ran into the creek knowing fully well that he could not swim. The court heard that the police retrieved the suspected cannabis in his presence.
After hearing both sides of the events of the day in question, the Chief Magistrate placed him on $40,000 bail. He will make his next court appearance on a later date in March.
