THIRTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD Banmattie ‘Lalita’ Persaud of Lot 460 Grass Field, Lusignaan, East Coast Demerara was found guilty by Magistrate Judy Latchman of trafficking cocaine in boulangers (egg plant), and was accordingly sentenced to 56 months’ imprisonment and fined more than $11M.During the ruling, the magistrate told Persaud she believed Persaud had physical control of the substance and had every opportunity to discover cocaine in the vegetable. The court also found that she had intention of trafficking the illicit drug out of Guyana, hence her being found guilty.

Represented by Attorney-at-law Mr. Motie Singh, Persaud had chosen to give sworn statements and had declined to call a witness on her behalf.

She claimed she was being set up by a person with whom she had shared a relationship and by that person’s friend.

Asked by the magistrate if she had anything to say, Persaud responded by denying any knowledge of the cocaine in the boulanger, vowing that had she been aware of its existence, she would have had nothing to do with the vegetables.

Before handing down the jail term, Magistrate Latchman took into consideration all the mitigating factors, quantum of the drug, the method used to conceal the substance, and the need to discourage others from contemplating committing similar offences. She also took into consideration that Persaud had been incarcerated since 2013.

The prosecution’s facts are that Persaud has been engaged in shipping vegetables and fruits to Canada for some time, using a particular licensed exporter.

The arrangements ceased and the shipper went out of business for some time because of financial problems. He informed Persaud of his difficulties, and she assisted him to get on his feet again.
As a result, the business recommenced, and during the month of November 2013, Persaud made arrangements with the shipper to export vegetables to Canada. She asked him to uplift some of those vegetables, which included squash, at the Bourda Market.

Meanwhile, she acquired vegetables from East Coast Demerara and Berbice, including boulanger, and the shipper took what he had and they put together everything to ship to Canada.

The prosecutor said the CANU officer decided to do a 100 percent check on the boxes after Persaud had already left the airport, having paid the shipment fees. When the officer held the first boulanger, the top fell off, and further observation revealed that the illegal substance was used to replace the pulp of the vegetables.

The officer told the shipper of his suspicions, and the vegetables were taken to CANU Headquarters for further investigations to be conducted, which led to the arrest of Persaud.

The single mother of three had, on December 9, 2013, first appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya-Sewnarine-Beharry and had denied that on Saturday, November 30, 2013, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, she had in her possession 12.330 kilogrammes of cocaine for the purpose.

The matter was subsequently transferred before Magistrate Latchman for trial, was prosecuted by Police Inspector Stephen Telford, and both CANU witnesses and civilians were called to testify.

AROUND THE COURTS
With Geeta Rampersaud