A MAN was yesterday sentenced to three years imprisonment and fined $30,000 by Magistrate Judy Latchman on a drug-trafficking charge.Daro Peter made his first appearance on February 4 and pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on February 2 at Georgetown, he had in his possession two grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
During the trial two witnesses were called to testify on behalf of the prosecution. Peter was unrepresented by counsel.
On his first court appearance, Police Prosecutor, Inspector Shellon Daniels told the court that on the day in question, the police on patrol at the Stabroek Market observed the defendant and another man fighting.
Daniels said that the police separated the men and conducted a search on both, during which the police found a container strapped with three rubber bands on Peter’s left arm. The police opened the container in his presence and found a white rock-like substance suspected to be cocaine.
Magistrate Latchman in her ruling said that she had considered the mitigating factors in Peter’s favour, as well as the quantity and street value of the drug. The magistrate also considered the seriousness and prevalence of drug-trafficking in the society.
The court, she said, needed to act so as to deter others from contemplating to participate in the drug trade before handing down the sentence.