Ex-prison officer guilty of trafficking drugs

Oct 08, 2014 News

An ex-prison officer was yesterday convicted for trafficking drugs inside the Georgetown Prisons earlier this year.

Guilty: Akeem Vyphuis

Akeem Vyphuis, 22, who had been a prison officer for the past three years, was found guilty after a trial before Magistrate Judy Latchman which concluded at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
According to the police, on July 14, last, the officer had 279 grammes of cannabis in his possession at the Camp Street facility for trafficking purposes.
It is reported that Vyphuis reported for work via the main entrance of the prison compound and was shortly after seen by Cadet Officer Cameron throwing a package on the ground.
When it was checked, the package had five parcels therein. The Prosecution had reported that the illegal substance was in those five parcels. It was later weighed and amounted to that mentioned in the charge. The matter was later reported and investigated, after which Vyphuis was arrested and charged.
Three days after the bust, the ex-prison officer appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to answer to the drug trafficking charge. The accused denied the allegation and the matter was subsequently sent to Magistrate Latchman for trial.
Returning her verdict yesterday after engaging the evidence from several witnesses, Magistrate Latchman ruled that notwithstanding Vyphuis’ defence, she found him guilty as charged. Citing a past court case, she said that the then prison officer knew what was contained in the parcel since he threw it away when he noticed the Cadet Officer.
As she prepared for sentencing, the Magistrate requested the street value of the drug to calculate the fine the court would impose, but the Prosecution requested leave to provide that information.
Their request was granted and Magistrate Latchman indicated that she will sentence the prison officer today.

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