A FIFTY-YEAR-old Lindener, Ivan Tello, was on Wednesday remanded to prison by Magistrate Clive Nurse on a charge of allegedly having in his possession ½ gram of cocaine.The case was heard at the Christianburg Magistrates Court. The charge read that on Monday, the 19th December, 2016, the defendant allegedly had in his possession the illegal drug and was apprehended by police ranks on Burnham Drive, Wismar.
Tello had originally pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him, but after listening to the particulars, he informed the magistrate that he would like to change his plea to guilty. Magistrate Clive Nurse asked whether he was aware that the offence carries a maximum penalty of five years and a minimum penalty of three if he is found guilty. Tello then took some time to think about his decision made to change his plea while Magistrate Nurse reread the charge to him and enquired whether he had used any mind-altering substance during the last 24 hours. He replied in the negative and stuck to his not-guilty plea. He will return to court on the 8th March, 2017.