| … Thought he was transporting dry coconuts-court hearsOne of two men, who were allegedly held with almost 130 pounds of marijuana concealed in (salt) bags, after police intercepted a car at Kitty, Georgetown, during a high speed chase, is claiming that he thought dry coconuts were in the bags.The man, Fawad Hamid, also known as ‘Not Nice’, 22, of Blairmont Estate, Berbice and Mark Douglas of Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice, are accused of having 58.843 kilogrammes of marijuana in their possession for the purpose of trafficking on March 12, at David Street, Kitty, Georgetown.Hamid and Douglas who are represented by Attorneys Mark Waldron and Clyde Forde respectively are out on bail.Police acting on information travelled to the vicinity of Subs and Salads, Sheriff Street, Georgetown, where two vehicles were seen. Hamid, who was the driver of one of the vehicles, turned into David Street, Georgetown after seeing police ranks. Ranks intercepted the vehicle after an exchange of gunfire and conducted a search during which a quantity of compressed marijuana was found in five bags in the trunk of the vehicle.Last week, Hamid was called on to lead a defence after trial Magistrate Judy Latchman ruled that a Prima Facie case was made out against him based on evidence led by Police Prosecutor Vishnu Hunt.Guided by his Attorney, the defendant elected to give a sworn testimony, during which he told the court that Douglas had given him five white salt bags and told him that dry coconuts were inside.According to Hamid whilst leaving his home on the day in question, Douglas approached him at a park at Rosignol, Berbice and asked if he wanted a taxi to Georgetown. Hamid recalled that Douglas told him he had some bags to take to the city. He said that Douglas left and returned with five salt bags and placed them into the trunk of the vehicle.“He (Douglas) tell me the bags got to go to Georgetown and he gave me a phone number to call somebody. I put it (the phone number) in my cell phone. He said when I go on Sheriff Street call the (phone number) and a man will come and collect the (salt) bags.”The witness said that he drove the car from Berbice and called the cell phone number given to him while on Sheriff Street, but got no answer which resulted in him calling Douglas who told him he would be there in two minutes.Hamid said, “When Mark Douglas arrived he parked behind my car. When I stepped out my car to talk to Douglas I see a burgundy 212 (motorcar) pull up alongside Douglas car with four plainclothes policemen.”The defendant stated that he rushed into his car and sped off after police ranks with guns approached his co-accused. He stated that police chased after him firing gunshot and he surrendered; stepping out of the car.Hamid told the court that he was taken to Police Narcotics Branch, Eve Leary, Georgetown,Deportivas Asics Hombre Baratas, where police ranks opened the salt bags in the presence of Mark Douglas and disclosed that the bag contained marijuana.Hamid related that he told police that the drug belonged to Mark Douglas and they promised to send him home if he testified against Douglas.In spite of the promise, Hamid told the court police later informed him that he would be charged for the offence.This matter is continuing. |
