A TWENTY-SEVEN-year-old Norton Street, Lodge man was yesterday remanded to prison after denying a charge of trafficking in narcotics, when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. It is alleged that on June 28, at Norton Street, Joseph Winston John had 326 grams of cannabis sativa (marijuana) in his possession for the purpose of trafficking. Joseph was remanded to prison until July 23 and had his matter transferred to Magistrate Judy Latchman, after pleading not guilty to the allegation.
The mason was represented by Attorney-at-law Paul Fung-a-Fat, who argued for him to be released on reasonable bail. The lawyer pointed out that the narcotic was found in the lower flat of his client’s apartment, while at the time 10 boys were downstairs in the building but ran away when they saw the police.
However, Police Prosecutor Corporal Deniro Jones related the facts of the matter. He told the court that on the day in question, ranks from the Narcotics Branch went to the defendant’s home after receiving information that Joseph is a “Weed-dealer.”
When ranks approached the house, Joseph saw them and started to run and threw a black bag into the lower flat. The rank retrieved the bag which contained a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis. According to the prosecutor, when the ranks apprehended Joseph he told them under caution, “See what yah can do fuh yah boy is lil weed ah hustling.”
Meanwhile, a Mandela Avenue food vendor was also remanded by the chief magistrate, after he was caught by the police throwing a black plastic bag with cannabis onto his neighbour’s roof.
Frank Kowlessar, 36, of Lot 3 Mandela Avenue, denied that he on Wednesday, June 29 at Mandela Avenue, had 34.5 grams of cannabis in his possession. Kowlessar’s lawyer Paul Fung-a-Fat contended that his client lives in an unfenced, open lot, where other houses are close to each other. Fung-a-Fat pointed out that the police ranks found the narcotic and pinned it on his client who was sitting nearby. Police Prosecutor Corporal Jones disclosed to the court that ranks from the narcotic branch went to the defendant’s home and scouted the area when they saw Kowlessar throwing a black plastic bag onto the roof of his next-door neighbour.