SEON McDonald, a vendor of Lot 4 Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara, appeared yesterday before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and denied that on Saturday, June 7, at Coomacka Waterfront, Mabaruma, he had in his possession 741 grammes of cannabis-sativa (marijuana) for the purpose of trafficking.
Police Corporal Bharat Mangru, prosecuting, said that on the day in question, the defendant was seated in the front seat of a speed boat with a yellow and black John Sport haversack on his person. Police on patrol searched McDonald,
and leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis sativa were found in the haversack.
But according to the unrepresented defendant, who pleaded not guilty to the offence, he was on the boat with about five other persons, and the police took all of them to the station. He said no bag was found on his person, yet the police charged him only.
The Chief Magistrate refused McDonald bail on the ground that he had offered no reason why he should be given his pre-trial liberty, and transferred the case to the Mabaruma Magistrate’s Court for August 18.
Written By Geeta Rampersaud