East La Penitence mechanic remanded on drug trafficking charge

George Hope, 22, a mechanic of East La Penitence, Georgetown, was refused bail and remanded to prison on Monday morning by Magistrate Judy Latchman, following a not-guilty plea and a failed bail submission by his lawyer.
It is alleged that the defendant was in possession of 736 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking on September 24, 2017, at East La Penitence.
Attorney-at-Law Keoma Griffith indicated that his client was detained along with others by law enforcement agents in relation to the recent Freeman Street, East La Penitence robbery-murder and it was during this investigation that his client was slapped with the trafficking charge, which he has no knowledge of.
According to the lawyer, the alleged drug was found in a house several properties away from the defendant’s premises.
However, Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves sought to rebut the position of the defence counsel by advancing that on the day in question, Police, acting on information, swooped down on the home of the accused, and conducted a search on his person and property.
Nothing was found on his person, but the drug was found concealed in a haversack in a barrel, which the defendant was standing next to at the time of the search.
In addition, it is further alleged that the defendant admitted to possession, knowledge and ownership of the illicit substance and this formed the basis for the prosecution’s objection to bail being granted.
The matter stands adjourned to October 23, 2017.
Some five persons were held for the brutal Freeman Street home invasion, which left 58-year-old Fazal Shaheed dead and two of his brothers wounded. Those arrested are expected to be charged shortly.