NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD Hadlee McKenzie, who was nabbed in a February 20 drug bust at Sand Hills, Berbice River, was granted bail in the Berbice High Court on Tuesday.
Justice Brassington Reynolds set surety for him at $350,000, following a petition by his mother, Pauline McKenzie.
Her son was charged with cultivating prohibited plants, following a Police raid but the petitioner said he has been suffering from mental illness for years and being incarcerated is affecting his health.
He was working on a farm owned by Edwin Joseph when ranks from Central Police Station in New Amsterdam, also in Berbice, swooped down on the cultivation and arrested the latter, and Royden Jackson, who were also jointly charged with the same offence .
However, Joseph was allowed pre-trial liberty for $300,000 and Jackson on a $150,000 bond while McKenzie was remanded to prison.
The Tuesday application for McKenzie was made by attorney-at-law Mr. Charrandas Persaud.