A Bartica man was brought before Magistrate Judy Latchman and was remanded to prison after he was charged for being in possession of over one pound of marijuana.
Junior Stevens, 31, entered a not guilty plea when the charge was read to him.
That charge stated that he, on June 11th at Fifth Street, Bartica, was found to be in possession of 554 grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.
Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves told the Court that on the day in question, the Police who had the defendant under surveillance, saw him putting a bag into a nearby shop. When the bag was checked by Police, the illegal substance was found and as such he was arrested and charged.
However, the Attorney representing the accused contended that his client was on the beach on the day of his arrest when he was approached by Police Officers and questioned about a bag. He reportedly told ranks that he knew nothing of the bag.
The Attorney told the Court that his client was taken into Police custody at gunpoint after which he was asked to open the bag which contained the illegal substance but refused to do so. As such, he was arrested and charged.
Magistrate Latchman refused bail and the accused is scheduled to reappear on June 27 2017.
