Miner remanded for possession of 136.7 grams of cannabis

A 42-year-old miner was on Friday remanded to prison after being charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.
Deryck Smith, of Lot 11 Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown, appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where the charge was read to him. It is alleged that on August 5, at a minibus park in Georgetown, Smith had in his possession 136.7 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Smith was represented by Attorney-at-Law Stacy Goodings, who told the court that her client is a father of six and a first-time offender who had never before been charged. Goodings said Smith works as a miner, and on the day in question, he had been at the market to pick up his daughter. She explained that he was in the vicinity of some stall areas when a big commotion broke out and several persons were arrested. According to Goodings, Smith said he was approached by police, who told him he was being arrested in connection with narcotics. She emphasised that “no narcotics were found in his person” and that he was not a stall owner, merely in the area at the time. Goodings argued that these were “special reasons” the court should consider in granting bail. However, the prosecution objected to bail, arguing that there were no special reasons in the matter. The prosecutor told the court that the narcotic “was found in the defendant’s hand” and that when approached by police at the bus park, Smith began resisting arrest and attempted to drive away, striking an officer in the process. The court heard there was video footage of the incident, which was presented to the Magistrate. After reviewing the footage, Magistrate McGusty said it showed Smith exiting a vehicle, evading police arrest, and attempting to leave the area. Guided by what she observed in the footage, Magistrate McGusty ruled that bail would be refused. Smith was remanded to prison until September 12, when the matter will be called again.