Man charged with ganja trafficking

May 25, 2016 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

A mechanic was yesterday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court after he denied trafficking marijuana.

Desmond Rigby

Thirty-three year-old Desmond Rigby of Sophia pleaded not guilty to the charge, which stated that on May 23 at Seven Kilometres Police Outpost in the Cuyuni River district, he had in his possession 173 grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.
Prosecutor Inspector Neville Jeffers stated that policemen conducted a search on the defendant’s haversack where they discovered the illegal substance concealed in a plastic bag with leaves, seeds and stems.
The prosecutor said the man declared ownership of the substance when police officers questioned him and he told them he was going to drop the bag off somewhere.
Rigby, in his defence, stood in the prisoner’s docks and shouted “you mad!”, while declaring that he had nothing to do with the bag. He explained that he was at a bus shed waiting on a bus and he placed his bag on a seat provided. He added that there were many persons in the bus shed because it was raining. Rigby, who gesticulated whilst relating his version of events, told the court that policemen asked to search him and he agreed.
“I tell them it’s okay, they can search me… me ain’t got no problem.” He recounted that when he went to his bag, he observed a strange plastic bag under his belongings. “Dey ask me if is me own and I said no, I never see that thing in me life…and these men lash me in me head and carry me to the station and book me.” The man emphatically declared his innocence as he broke down in tears. He later expressed that he did not want to be punished for something he did not know about.
According to the prosecutor the analyst report was still outstanding, nevertheless, Rigby was denied bail. The magistrate later transferred the matter to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court where it will be called again on June 19th.