THIRTY-YEAR-OLD Rawle Victor, known as ‘Ralo’, of Sheet Anchor Village, East Canje Berbice, appeared on Friday last before New Amsterdam Magistrate Marissa Mittelholzer to answer a charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

The unrepresented man pleaded not guilty as charged.

Police Sergeant Phillip Sheriff, prosecuting, said that on June 24 last, at about 20:00hrs, cops on mobile patrol in the Sheet Anchor area noticed the defendant on a bicycle carrying a bulky black bag and acting in a suspicious manner.

Challenged, the suspect dropped the bag, which, when retrieved by the cops and examined in his presence, was found to contain leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be from the cannabis sativa plant. The contents of the bag were subsequently weighed and tested, revealing 356 grammes of suspected ganja.

However, whilst being detained, Victor escaped, and was only recently arrested.

The magistrate refused Victor bail, and set recall of this case to September 28.

In addition to the current charge, Victor is charged with robbery under arms, allegedly committed on supermarket proprietor Mohamed Ali, who was robbed of $2.5M as he was about to make a deposit at the Scotia Bank in New Amsterdam on August 4, 2014.

Victor was subsequently nabbed with $1.3M in his possession.

Incidentally, the M. Ali and Sons Supermarket was robbed by armed bandits within recent weeks

Additionally, the defendant faces another robbery charge, detailing that on April 23, 2014, he robbed Raymond Arnold, 60, of 20 St John Street, New Amsterdam, of $1M cash and his car, valued at $2,75M. That incident occurred on April 23, 2014.

Further, Victor was charged with robbery committed on Indernauth Bishram, called ‘Ajay’, of Sun Shine Supermarket and Poultry Supplies of Public Road, Cumberland, East Canje Berbice of $1.3M on April 28, 2014.

By Jeune Bailey