Six Berbicians charged with trafficking ganja

Jul 12, 2017 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

– lone male pleads guilty

A woman, her two teen daughters, her husband and two other women were on Monday charged with the offence of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.
The five females identified as Ann Thomas, 57, of 14 Smithfield, New Amsterdam, her daughters Kathyann Sampson, 17, and Mayann Thomas, 19, a mother of a seven month old, Paula Hinds, 51, of Angoy’s Avenue and Iverene Bourne, 56, of Suriname, were jointly charged with Joel Thomas at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s court when they appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore.
The five women pleaded not guilty to the charge while Joel Thomas pleaded guilty. The teens and their mother were placed on $300,000 bail each, however their Attorney, Horatio Edmonson, pleaded for leniency. Bail was subsequently reduced to $250,000 each. Bourne and Hinds were placed on $150,000 each after their bail was also reduced from $200,000.
Sentencing for Joel Thomas was deferred.
During the court proceedings, Attorney Edmonson requested the application for bail for the five women based on information that Joel Thomas had told the police that the cannabis found at the home belonged to him and not the women. He also stated that none of the accused was in the house when police entered the yard at Smithfield.
However Police Prosecutor Corporal Poliah objected to bail on the ground that all of the accused were said to be in the house tending to the seeds, stems and leaves, believed to be cannabis, at that time. He explained that the six accused were met by ranks sitting on the floor, cutting and weighing the suspected cannabis. The Prosecutor also provided pictures reportedly showing all the accused cutting and weighing the narcotic.
Magistrate Moore after viewing the pictures stated that they did not clearly identify the women and only Joel Thomas could be seen in the picture.
Bail was subsequently granted to the five females. Bourne and Hinds managed to post bail, however Ann Sampson and her two daughters could not. The four were all whisked away to the New Amsterdam Prison.
According to the facts of the case, on July 8 last at 11:20 hrs, acting on information received, police went to the home of Joel Thomas at 14 Smithfield, New Amsterdam and conducted a search for arms, ammunition and narcotics. In so doing all the defendants were seen in the hall of the house cutting and weighing the suspected cannabis. Eleven black plastic bags containing seeds stems and leaves were also discovered. They occupants were all arrested.