WOMAN Prison Officer, Joan Ann Erskine, who was nabbed with298 grams of cannabis sativa at the New Amsterdam Prison, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and fined $200,000 by Senior Magistrate Alex Moore, after she was found guilty of trafficking in narcotics.
In default of paying the fine, Erskine will have to spend another six months in prison. The 35-year-old woman, who served the Guyana Prison Service for over 14 years, had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was placed on 150,000 bail. However, she was found guilty after the Magistrate overruled the submissions of Attorney-at-law, Tania Clement Warren.
Police Prosecutor, Godfrey Playter led the evidence of Chief Officer, Colin John, Woman Prison Officer, Donell Crandon, convicted prisoner, William Johnson and some investigators. The court heard that on October 23, 2016 at about 10:32 hrs, Crandon was on duty at the New Amsterdam (NA) prison as the gate officer when she observed Erskine, who was also on duty, acting in a suspicious manner. The court was told that Erskine was walking in and out of the female prison as she conversed on her cellphone.
Erskine then requested Crandon to open the main door and she did so. Crandon observed Erskine collecting a bulky black plastic bag from a dark coloured car. The plastic bag was placed in her working bag. Afterwards, Inmate Johnson approached the main gate with an empty basket. On that day, Johnson was the Chief Cook. He had finished cooking and was collecting food containers belonging to staff from the reception area. While returning to the inner gate with his basket, the court heard that Erskine placed a bulky black plastic bag in the basket.
Johnson questioned Erskine about the bag and she responded, “take it to Mohamed Ally, Is he biscuits and medications.”
Meanwhile, Prison Officer Crandon, who saw when Erskine placed the bag in the basket, requested to have it searched. While it was being searched Erskine attempted to snatch the bag and said, “don’t open the bag, meh got two lil children fo mind.”
Chief Officer John observed the two prison officers and he intervened. He then opened the bag and found five parcels containing leaves, seeds and stems of cannabis sativa wrapped with brown scotch tape. The police were contacted, the narcotics were weighed and charges were instituted.