Gold trader remanded for ganja

Jan 04, 2017 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, remanded a 52-year-old man to prison after he was arraigned before her on charges of trafficking in narcotics.

REMANDED: Henry Conway

The man, Henry Conway, of Watooka, Linden, is alleged to have had 20 grams of cannabis sativa (marijuana) in his possession for the purpose of trafficking on December 31, at Water Front, Port Kaituma, North West District.
It is further alleged that on the same day at Main Road, Port Kaituma, North West District, he had 3.82 kilograms of cannabis sativa (marijuana) in his possession also for the purpose of trafficking.
Conway, a gold trader, who was represented by Attorney Adrian Thompson, pleaded not guilty to both allegations after they were read to him yesterday in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
In relation to the first charge, Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones told the court that on the day in question, police stopped and searched the defendant after they observed him acting in a suspicious manner.
Jones said that during the search, a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems were found in a jacket the defendant was wearing. Also found in the jacket was a key to a hotel room, the prosecutor said.
Prosecutor Jones revealed that Conway told police that he was staying at a hotel. Police requested to search the hotel and escorted the defendant there.
According to Prosecutor Jones, a search was conducted on Room 22 and another set of marijuana was found.
However, Attorney Thompson during a bail application argued that the illicit drug was not found in his client’s possession. He said that police searched the room at the guest house and alleged that the drug was found in a bag.
Thompson contested that multiple persons have access to the guest house room and the drug could have belonged to anyone.
The attorney said that his client has no pending matters or previous convictions.
Prosecutor Jones opposed bail for the defendant citing the fact that no special reasons were raised by the attorney and also the gravity of the charge. Jones indicated that an analyst report is still outstanding from the case file.
Nevertheless, the Chief Magistrate transferred this matter to the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court for February 7.

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