Vendor charged for smuggling alcohol to prisoner

A vendor of Meadow Bank, East Bank Demerara, was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Thursday morning, just a day after he attempted to smuggle to murder accused Howard “Spleen” Rambarose two water bottles containing alcohol at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Defence counsel Tiffany Jeffery in a bail submission related that Marks McLennan was 50 years of age and resided at Second Street, Meadow Bank with his wife and four children. She added that her client had one antecedent, an unrelated matter of domestic violence.

Prosecutor Arvin Moore had no objection to bail, but requested that same be granted in a substantial amount. It is alleged that the defendant brought two water bottles containing a transparent water-like substance into the court’s premises and attempted to pass it to the named party. As a rank made routine checks, a strong scent emanated from the open bottle causing him to suspect it contained alcohol.

The bottles were then seized and the defendant arrested and taken to the Brickdam Police Station, where the containers were sealed in his presence and taken to the analyst.

Moore concluded that the vendor was questioned and charged with the offence, adding that the file was yet incomplete owing to an outstanding analyst report.

McLennan was granted bail in the sum of $50,000 and ordered to return to court on June 12, 2017.