A MINER was on Wednesday remanded to prison by City Magistrate, Judy Latchman on a drug trafficking charge.
It is alleged that Junior Stephens, 31, on June 11, 2017 at Fifth Avenue, Bartica, had 554 grams of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking. Stephens did not have legal representation and pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Police Prosecutor, Shawn Gonsalves, told the court that on the day in question, Sergeant English, who is stationed at the Bartica Police Station, was in an unmarked motor vehicle observing the defendant, who was spotted with two red haversacks in his hand.
Gonsalves further explained that the Sergeant alerted ranks at the station and requested back up. The court heard that while the senior officer was waiting for backup, he saw when the defendant hid the haversacks. The haversacks were retrieved by the police in the presence of Stephens and the narcotics were found inside.
The prosecutor objected to Stephens being released on bail based on the seriousness of the offence. The Magistrate ruled in the prosecution’s favour and remanded Stephens until June 27, 2017 when he will appear before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan.