A 39-YEAR-OLD gold miner who attempted to bribe a police officer with raw gold to drop a narcotic charge against his sister-in-law was on Monday charged with bribery.

Ernest Trotman of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and denied the charge.
It is alleged that Trotman on May 9 at Issano Police Station, Essequibo, corruptly gave to an agent of the state,Alex Vaughn, an officer employed by the government,one ounce of raw gold as an inducement to forego a charge against Dalyne Stewart for possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.
Trotman’s attorney, Latchmie Rahamat told the court that her client operated a shop in the interior location and left his sister-in-law, Stewart as the shopkeeper.
The attorney noted that following the news that a police raid was conducted at her client’s shop,the man left his Zeelugt home and went to the Issano Police Station in Essequibo.
Rahamat further explained that Trotman was questioned in relation to the drugs found at his shop and he was placed under arrest by the police. He was searched and his gold chain along with other items taken away.
However,according to police Prosecutor, Arwyn Moore,the accused offered the raw gold to police officer,Vaughn,as an inducement for him to drop the narcotics charge.
The Magistrate released the goldminer on $150,000 bail and transferred the matter to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for May 25.