AMRITA Persaud, a self-employed woman who resides at Lot 26 Seaforth Street, Campbellville, and 42-year-old Gavin Williams of Lot 82 Gordon Street, Kitty, Georgetown were both remanded to prison by Magistrate Fabayo Azore on charges of trafficking in narcotics.

The duo pleaded not guilty to the charges that on Friday, February 21, at Lot 26 Seaforth Street, Campbellville, they had in their possession 4.566 kg of cannabis-sativa (marijuana) for the purpose of trafficking in narcotics.

Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) prosecutor, Mr. Oswald Massiah, told the court that Persaud and her family are known to the defendant Williams. Accordingly, an arrangement was made whereby Williams took the substance mentioned in the particulars to the home of Amrita Persaud. But CANU officers, acting on information, visited Persaud’s home and identified themselves. Persaud subsequently went to her bedroom and brought a bag containing the prohibited substance and told them, “I know what you came for,” and gave them the bag.

Attorney-at-law, Mr. Neil Boston, representing Persaud, applied for bail, citing that Persaud operates an Internet café. He added that in relation to the offence, special circumstances must be related to the person, rather than the offence.

He said Persaud had no authority to check what was in the bag that Williams had left with her shortly before CANU turned up.

The lawyer reminded the court that the guiding principle in granting bail is to determine if the defendant would return to court to stand trial.

Regarding Williams, the prosecutor said he owns a vehicle and is involved in the business of mining. He said the defendant used his vehicle to deliver the illegal substance to Persaud for the purpose of selling.

Massiah said that, acting on information, the ranks arrested Williams and he was identified as the person who had taken the substance to Persaud. He first denied the allegation, but later assisted CANU ranks with further investigations.

Williams claimed he was given the substance by someone in South Ruimveldt.

Williams was represented by attorney-at-law Ms. Granville, who in a bail application stated that her client is a father of six with no prior conviction. She said that according to the prosecution’s facts, nothing indicates that her client was in actual or constructive possession of the substance.

The prosecutor indicated that the files in this matter are incomplete, but bail was refused the duo because there was no special reason advanced by the defence. The cases have been put down to March 19.

(By Geeta Rampersaud)