FIFTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD Godfrey Jonas, a miner of Nappy village in Lethem, Region Nine, appeared yesterday before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, unrepresented by counsel, to answer a drug trafficking charge which detailed that on July 14 at Aranapurna, Lethem, he had in his possession 775 grammes of cannabis-sativa (marijuana) for the purpose of trafficking.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru said that on the day in question, a party of policemen acting on information went to the defendant’s home and saw him taking a bag off his pedal cycle, which, when checked, contained a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems of the prohibited plant wrapped in a black and yellow plastic bag. Jonas was reportedly told of the offence and arrested and charged.

The police prosecutor successfully opposed bail on ground that no special reason had been advanced for its grant.

Jonas pleaded not guilty to the charge, but was remanded to prison whilst the case was transferred before the Lethem Magistrate for September 1.