MAGISTRATE Rhondel Weaver changed the plea of Jairam Ramprethram after he disagreed with the facts of a narcotics case presented by Corporal Orin Joseph at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.

Ramprethram, 43, of Williamsburg Squatting Area, had initially pleaded guilty to being in possession of half a gram of cocaine at Rose Hall Town on August 14.
 Police Prosecutor Joseph informed the court that the police were on mobile patrol when they observed the defendant acting suspiciously. Consequently Constable 21344 Kendall carried out a search on his person and the suspected cocaine was found in his left hand.
But attorney-at-law, Carlyn Artiga, appearing amicus curiae (standing as a friend of the court) told the magistrate that upon questioning the defendant, she was informed that the alleged narcotics were not weighed in his presence.
The magistrate told the defendant that before she can accept his guilty plea, he must accept all the facts as presented by the prosecution.
She then changed the plea to not guilty and ordered him to post $60,000 bail before transferring the case to Albion Court for hearing on September 3.