TWO North West District (Region One) residents were on Thursday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on a charge of cultivating cannabis.Deon Debden, 23 and Cheddi Dawson 42, were jointly charged with the offence which alleged on November 2, at Hotoqua Village, Aruka River NWD, they cultivated cannabis. The men pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Debden was also separately charged for two other offences to which he also denied.

The first charge alleged that on November 2 at Hotoqua Village, he had an unlicensed 20 gauge shotgun along with a matching live cartridge on the said day and location. He was also charged for making use of threatening behaviour against Abraham Daniels, Hotoqua Village Leader on October 29.

According to the facts presented by Police Prosecutor, Inspector Neville Jeffers on the Wednesday, November 2 about 10:30h, police ranks were responding to a report of threats made to Hotoqua Village Leader by Debden when they decided to conduct a search on the man’s premises.

Both Debden and Dawson stayed at the same place where the cannabis was discovered. Further searches unearthed the shotgun which Debden owned. The Magistrate remanded both men until November 15 and transferred the matter to Mabaruma Magistrate’s Court.