FORTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD Razak Ali and Imran Khan, 23 (no addresses given) appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton yesterday, on charges of cultivating a prohibited plant and possession of firearm and ammunition.

Particulars of the offences said, on January 15, Ali and Khan cultivated cannabis (marijuana) and the same day, they had a 16-gauge shotgun without lawful authority.

Ali alone was charged, separately, with having six 16-gauge cartridges although not being the holder of a firearm licence and he pleaded not guilty to all the charges while Khan pleaded guilty.

Ali was represented by Attorney-at-law Mr. Glen Hanoman who asked the magistrate to take into consideration the fact that the co-defendant confessed to the crimes.

Hanoman said Ali is presently involved in a land dispute with his neighbour who took policemen from Georgetown to arrest him.

Police Sergeant Shellon Daniels, prosecuting, objected to bail on the grounds that no special reason was advanced by the lawyer and said there is also an alleged oral statement by Ali who admitted committing the offences under caution.

The Prosecutor said Police went to Ali’s home where Khan was present and a search yielded the gun and a farm where the prohibited plant was growing amidst pumpkins.

Daniels said Khan admitted he committed the crime but claimed he was only an employee on the farm.

Khan told the Court Ali gave him the farm to run and he bought the gun from a Dutchman because wild hogs were eating his plants.

The defendant said a friend gave him some seeds, telling him they were from tomato but they were of cannabis.

Khan was sentenced to three years imprisonment and fined $30,000 in the drug case and two years imprisonment and a fine of $25,000 for the illegal gun, the sentences to run consecutively.

Ali was remanded to prison and his case was transferred to Springlands Court, Corentyne, Berbice, for February 4.