Fireman charged with wife’s death now faces ganja charge

Aug 21, 2019 News

Almost three months after being charged with his wife’s death, Osafo Bess, yesterday returned to court where he was made to answer a charge of trafficking narcotics.
It was alleged that on August 17, 2019 at Arcade Mahdia, Potaro River, he had in his possession 43 grams of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. Bess pleaded not guilty to the charge which was read to him in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
He was represented by attorney-at-law Ronald Daniels who stated that the defendant is 27 years old, a fireman and businessman of 111 Mile Mahdia.
The attorney claimed that he was instructed that his client was sitting in front of his shop which has another shop next to it. He added that there was a group of persons at the other shop who was drinking and smoking while Bess was playing games on his phone.
Police ranks later arrived and two men ran away. Some police ranks ran behind the two men and another rank approached Bess and snatched away his phone while at the same time asking what was it that he threw away.
Bess denied the question, however; a police rank claimed that they found the narcotic in the passageway between the shops. The narcotic was shown to the defendant; he was arrested and later charged for the offence.
Attorney Daniels requested that his client should be granted bail since he has no knowledge of it and it was not found on his person.
Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield did not object to bail as he related that the facts of the police is similar to what the defence is alleging. However, the police rank who retrieved the narcotic gave a statement indicating that he saw the defendant throwing a black bulky plastic bag in which they later found cannabis.
The defendant was granted bail in the sum of $70,000 and his matter was adjourned to October 15, 2019 when he will appear at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court for the continuation of his case.
Back in May, Bess was charged for riding motorcycle CH3715 in a manner dangerous to the public causing the death of Abadicy Klass on May 20, last, at 111 Mile Mahdia, Potaro Road. He had pleaded not guilty to the offence.
The facts of the charge were presented by police prosecutor Gordon Mansfield who stated that on the day in question the defendant was the rider of motorcycle CH 3715 which was proceeding north along the Mahdia road at a fast rate.
At the time, the victim, who was Bess’s common law wife, was a passenger on the motorcycle. Bess allegedly lost control of the motorbike and crashed into a concrete drain. Klass subsequently fell off and sustained injuries to her head and other parts of her body.
Both she and Bess were picked up by public spirited persons and rushed to the Mahdia Hospital where Bess was treated and Klass was pronounced dead on arrival.
He was granted bail in the sum of $150,000 while his matter is being heard at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court.
The condition of the bail is that the defendant is to report to the traffic department at the Mahdia Police Station every Friday until the completion of the matter. Bess’s motorcycle license has also been suspended.

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