Man on trial after denying narcotics possession allegation

Ron Haynes, who denied possessing a quantity of seeds, leaves and stems suspected to be cannabis (marijuana), made another appearance before Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate Christel Lambert.
Police say the accused was found with the prohibited items on a boat near a bar along the Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling Road earlier this year.
On Monday, Constable Stephen testified that he is the rank who had searched Haynes on May 6, 2017 in a boat behind the Midnight Bar at the Stelling area. The police witness recalled that five men were seated in the boat acting suspiciously, and were searched.
Constable Stephen explained that “a guy,” whom he identified as Haynes, placed something under the Captain’s seat moments before he was searched. Stephen claimed that the accused had thrown an item in the river and reportedly said, “Officer, is just a joint.”
The policeman further told the court that another rank, Constable Harris, had searched the area where Haynes was sitting and had found a transparent bag containing items which were believed to be cannabis. All 5 men had been arrested at 11:30h, but 3 were released by 16:00h on the day in question.
Under cross-examination by Haynes’s attorney, Paul Fung-a-Fat, the police constable admitted that one of the suspects had escaped police custody.
Detective Sergeant Norris Harry, who is attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), also took the stand and testified that several confrontations were held between Haynes and the other initial suspects, which included Davindra Singh and Colin Lewis.
Cross-examined, Detective Harry admitted that he, Constable Harris and others were accused of stealing some ,000, but the police witness maintained that the accusations were not true.
“The drugs were found by the Captain’s seat,” Harry asserted.
Fung-a-Fat queried if the detective was “out to get” Haynes, but the police rank outrightly rejected the attorney’s suggestion.
The trial continues on August 15, when Shane Chitram of Wales, West Bank Demerara is expected to take the stand before Magistrate Lambert.