CITY Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday sentenced a mother of four to three years in prison on a drug-trafficking charge. Twenty –five- year – old Ocia Leung, a cosmetologist of Albouys Street, Albouystown, made her first appearance before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry last June and had pleaded not guilty to the charge, which stated that on June 14, 2014 at Albouys Street, Albouystown, she had in her possession 4.3 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
According to prosecutor Shellon Daniels, a party of police officers from the Narcotics Branch, acting on information went to Leung’s residence around 08:20hrs on the afore-mentioned date, where they contacted Leung and her reputed husband, John Rowidge.
The police said that the ranks searched the premises and the drug was found in the ceiling of her toilet. Leung had reportedly confessed that the drug was hers and they were arrested and taken to CID Headquarters, where the drug was weighed.
They were both charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, but Rowidge was acquitted, since the court had found that there was no evidence linking him to the drug.
Leung was defended by Attorney-at-Law Ronald Burch-Smith, who asked the court not to impose a custodial sentence, since Leung has four minor children, ages three, five and six, as well as a 22-day-old baby.
The magistrate in addition to the three-year sentence; fined Leung $30,000.