CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan on Wednesday released a first-time offender on $40,000 bail after he appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrates’ court on a drug possession charge.Anthony Atkinson, 22 of Saint Ignatius Mission, Lethem pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on December 13, at Tabatinga, Lethem he had 10 grams of cannabis in his possession.

Atkinson lawyer, Jerome Khan explained to the court that the young mechanic suffers from malaria and was given the substance by someone to help with the pain.

Khan pointed out that Atkinson didn’t know what the substance was, since the person failed to tell him. Police Prosecutor, Simone Payne made no objection to bail. The Chief Magistrate released Atkinson on $40,000 and transferred the matter to the Lethem Magistrate’s Court for March 7, 2017.