A resident of Bartica appeared before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Cecil Martindale, 57, pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged that on March 26, 2017 at 5^th Street, Second Avenue, Bartica, he had one gram of cocaine in his possession. The unrepresented accused told the court that he found the cocaine on the side of the road, wrapped up in some money.

“I found the cocaine inside some money on the ground… but I didn’t know what it was,” the defendant explained.

Police Prosecutor, Arwyn Moore told the court that on the day in question, police on patrol in Second Avenue, Bartica saw Martindale acting in a suspicious manner and conducted a search on him, when the cocaine was found in his pants pocket.

The Magistrate released the 57-year-old man on$70,000 bail and transferred the matter to the Bartica Magistrate’s court for April 6, 2017.