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Alleged cocaine trafficker for High Court trial, co-accused freed
A man was yesterday committed to stand trial in the High Court for the offence of trafficking in narcotics;
FREED: Odinga Chase
while his co-accused was freed after they made an appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
Shemroy Robertson, 31, of 101 Mandela Avenue; and Odinga Chase, 29, of 169 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme were jointly charged with the offence earlier this year. The charge alleged that on January 15, at Princes Street, they had 1.156 kilogrammes of cocaine in their possession for the purpose of trafficking.
At yesterday’s court hearing, Magistrate McLennan told the court that a prima facie case was made out against Robertson based on evidence led by Customs Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford-Thompson
As such, she committed him to stand trial in the High Court at the next sitting of the Demerara Assizes for the indictable offence.
He was also admitted to bail in the sum of $600,000.
With regard to Chase, the Magistrate said that no evidence was produced by the Prosecutor to prove the essential elements of the offence. She subsequently dismissed the charge against him.
When asked if he had anything to say in defence, Robertson told the court, “I am innocent of this charge.” He opted to reserve his defence for the High Court.
According to court facts, Custom Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) ranks were in operation on the day in question, when Chase surrendered to ranks having exited a motorcar driven by Robertson. Robertson drove off and
Shemroy Robertson
CANU officer, Andrew Yarde, drove up beside him on Bent Street, Werk en-Rust. Yarde told Robertson to pull over, but he did not comply and a bag was soon after, thrown out from the vehicle.
While evading the police, Robertson became involved in an accident and was later found hiding in a house at Mandela Avenue.
The Magistrate’s ruling comes following the closure of the CANU’s case.
Attorney Peter Hugh who appeared on behalf of the men had submitted that a prima facie case had not been made out against Robertson or Chase.
Hugh had told the court that there was no evidence to suggest that Chase had knowledge or possession of a prohibited substance. According to the lawyer, the only evidence led against Chase was that a bag containing narcotics was thrown from a car he was in.
Hugh had related that Robertson was the driver of the vehicle and pointed out that the prosecution’s witnesses failed to state how many occupants were in the car at the time of the busts.
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