A FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD lad, who was previously convicted of narcotic possession, appeared before Magistrate Roby Benn yesterday, charged with wandering.
The teen, who made his appearance at New Amsterdam Court, denied that he, being under the age of 17 years and not an orphan, has parents who do not exercise proper guardianship.
The Adelphi Village youth had attended Canje Secondary School but absconded from classes since last year.
His mother, a sales clerk, confessed to the magistrate that she is unable to control her son who is always getting away from home and involving himself in illegal activities with bad boys.
The single parent of four, two of whom are older than the defendant, agreed that he be remanded to the juvenile detention centre pending trial on September 17.