The 19-year-old Canadian teen who was earlier this month charged with being in possession of some four pounds of heroin hidden in her suitcase was on Tuesday further remanded to prison when she appeared before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan.
Yuniyka Bovell, of Canada, who had been at the time of her arrest residing in Guyhoc Park, Georgetown with her mother for nine months, denied the allegation when it was put to her.
The charge stated that on October 5, 2017, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), she had 1.602 kilograms of diamorphine (heroin) in her possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford objected to bail being granted to the teen given the seriousness of the offence. The teen was then remanded to prison.
However, on the defendant’s second appearance before the Chief Magistrate, Sandiford requested an additional three weeks for an analyst’s report to be provided to the Court.
However, Bovell’s Attorney, Siand Dhurjon, made a petition for full disclosure to the Chief Magistrate.
He further requested that the defendant be granted her pretrial liberty on the grounds that the prosecution has already been granted three weeks for the testing of the substance which it has failed to do to date.
Dhurjon added that the prosecution was further requesting another three weeks which is unfair to the teen who has already suffered two severe asthma attacks while in prison.
The Attorney disclosed to the Court that his client’s life was at risk as she was not receiving proper treatment.
However, Magistrate McLennan denied his request for bail and granted the prosecution an additional three weeks for the analyst’s report to be provided.
Bovell was further remanded to prison, and was expected to appear in court again on November 14, 2017.
