Trio on bail for cannabis possession

Essequibians Frank Melville (40) of Maria Lodge, Michael Cotton (38) and Hemant Dhanpaul (40) were on Wednesday arraigned before Magistrate Ester Sam at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court on a joint charge of possessing 18 grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

The Prosecution is contending that Joint Services ranks, on July 31, went into Hemant Dhanpaul’s yard and conducted a search. Amidst the three defendants was found a bucket containing a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis. They were told of the offence — which they denied – and were subsequently arrested and charged.

The trio professed their innocence before Magistrate Sam and were each placed on $20,000 bail, a condition of which is that they each are expected to report at the Suddie Police Station every Saturday until determination of their case in court.

The matter will continue before Magistrate Sam on September 7.