Men on ganja-possession charge have bail extended

WESTERN BUREAU:

Two persons who were arrested for possession of 1,075 pounds of ganja during a police raid in January had their bails extended when they appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Forty-two-year-old craft vendor Patrick Gordon and 43-year-old domestic helper Maureen Mannings, both of Whitehouse in St James, who were charged with possession of and dealing in ganja, had their combined $500,000 bail sum extended until May 20, as the prosecution's case file against them was incomplete.

Allegations are that on January 19, a police team went to a house in Whitehouse on an operation, and during a search of the premises, the ganja was found. Gordon, Mannings and another man were reportedly at the house when the police arrived. They were both arrested and charged, while the other man escaped.

On Monday, clerk of the court Orrett Brown, told Resident Magistrate Carolyn Tai that several documents have not been added to the case-file.

"The file is not ready, as the forensic certificate and several accompanying statements are outstanding," said Brown. "The search warrant is also outstanding."

"I am going to set a mention date for us to get the forensic certificate. Would May 20 be convenient?" Tai asked attorney-at-law Tamika Spencer, who represented Gordon.

"Yes, but I am asking for Mr Gordon's bail conditions to be varied, as he is finding it onerous to report," said Spencer, while noting that both defendants had been instructed to report at the Coral Gardens Police Station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

"I will change it to Mondays and Thursdays instead for Mr Gordon," said Tai.

"You are both to return here on May 20, your bails are extended," she told Gordon and Mannings.

- C.T.