A FARMER of St. Cuthbert’s Mission was refused bail Tuesday by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on a drug-trafficking charge. Leroy Gunpat, 22, pleaded not guilty to the charge which detailed that on Saturday, February 14, at L Soesdyke-Linden Highway, he had in his possession 500 grammes of cannabis-sativa (marijuana) for the purpose of trafficking.

Representing Gunpat was attorney-at-law Ms. Latchmi Rahamat. She told the court that her client was in a car with three others when the police’s car broke down and blocked the road, causing the car which Gunpat was travelling in to stop.

Defence counsel said the ranks carried out a search on the vehicle and the persons in the car, but nothing was found. A further search by the police revealed that a few feet back was a bag containing the suspected drug. However, the defendant was charged and the other persons were kept in police custody.

According to Police Prosecutor Michael Grant, a parcel containing the illicit substance was found 15 feet away and Gunpat admitted to the police that he threw the parcel out of the car. Subsequently, they were taken to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for further investigations.

Gunpat, a father of one, was remanded to prison and the matter was transferred to the Linden Magistrates Court Tuesday coming.