UNITED STATES citizen Donna Charles, formerly of Wapping Lane, New Amsterdam, was sentenced in absentia to a total of six years imprisonment after she was found guilty by Magistrate Alex Moore of having in her possession 585 grammes of cannabis sativa and 1.2 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.Police Prosecutor Grace Bristol led evidence to prove that On April 22, the 61-year-old mother of two was nabbed after ranks from the Narcotics Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Georgetown, acting on information, travelled to Berbice and visited the home of the defendant, where a search was conducted. She said that the ranks found cocaine in a sheet in the woman’s living room chair, while the marijuana was found in a black bag in a microwave oven.
Charles had appeared initially at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court after which the matter was transferred to the New Amsterdam Court on April 27. However, after she was initially denied bail, she was granted her freedom following a petition to the High Court.
The defendant never attended court since bail was allowed, as she had reportedly fled the jurisdiction.