Okera Codrington, 26, of Lot 88 Campbellville Housing Scheme, Georgetown, who pleaded not guilty to possession of narcotics, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Magistrate Annette Singh to change his plea.
The unrepresented man informed the court that he usually uses cannabis for his health since he is asthmatic.
It is alleged that on January 27, at about 7 pm, a police patrol was in the Campbellville area when they saw Codrington sitting in a yard with a green plastic bag in his hand. They decided to approach him and it was at this point he opted to run away. However, the ranks pursued and apprehended him. When the police searched his person, they discovered a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis.
Codrington was then taken to the Alberttown police station where the suspected cannabis was weighed in his presence and amounted to 55 grams. The man was then told of the allegation and charged accordingly.
Magistrate Singh asked the defendant what he wished to say for himself and he replied, “Sorry I would never do it again because this is my first time before the court and I would just like to pay a fine.”
In recognition of his decision to plead guilty, he was sentenced to 15 hours of community service at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court and fined $33,000.
