A 37-year-old heavy duty operator was remanded to prison on Tuesday when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Keith Stevens, of Lot 54 Republic Avenue, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD), pleaded not guilty to the charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. The prosecution is contending that on September 23, 2016 at First Avenue, Bartica, he had in his possession 14.61 kilograms of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.
The court was told that on the day in question, ranks on duty were on patrol when they saw the defendant with a large garbage bag acting in a suspicious manner. As such, the ranks approached Stevens, who then threw the bag in a parked car and attempted to escape. He was, however, pursued by ranks and eventually caught.
The defendant’s Attorney contended that the prosecution’s case was flawed, claiming his client was an operator and the illicit drug was found in a car that his employer sent to pick him up. The Attorney added that his client only joined the taxi upon request of his employer and had no knowledge that the drug was in the car. As such, he requested bail which, however, was denied. The matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court where it would be called again on October 12, 2016.
