BUSINESSMAN Warren Soufflé, aka “Gage”, of Lot 3 Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, stood calmly in shackles in the prisoner’s dock in the courtroom of Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday, facing a charge of allegedly trafficking in narcotics.

The 40-year-old Soufflé is alleged to have conspired with Shanda Nicasie Nickels to traffic 4.160 kilogrammes of cocaine between August 7 and September 4 at Sussex Street, Charlestown, Georgetown.

Police had recently busted him with cocaine in his pants pocket at his home, after he had been fingered in another drug-connected case, and thus he was remanded to prison.

The businessman was also charged with having six grammes of the illicit drug in his possession on November 4 at Aubrey Barker Road when the police had come to conduct a search at his home.

Represented by Attorney-at-Law Mr Euclin Gomes, the defendant denied the charges and requested bail after stating that the police had trumped up the charges against him because of an ongoing feud between himself and the police.

Police prosecutor Deniro Jones said the matter was related to the case with Nickels, who was charged with drug-trafficking and was sentenced to three terms of imprisonment at the Sparendaam Magistrates Court. Jones said Nickels had given to the police a statement about the defendant which had indicated her willingness to testify against Soufflé.

Based on this information, Jones said, the ranks had gone to the defendant’s home at Lot 3048 Aubrey Barker Road, and not Lot 3, as the defendant had given to the court.
He further stated that, on November 4, the ranks had contacted the defendant at his gate and carried out a search which unearthed the illegal substance in his pocket.

Based on arguments by the defence and the prosecution, the court found that there was no special reason why bail should be granted the defendant.
The matter was thus transferred before Magistrate Fabayo Azore for November 23 for report and fixture.
(Clestine Juan)