Two Trinidadian men caught with marijuana

Two Trinidadian men were made to pay heavy fines when they appeared at the Serious Offences Court on Wednesday.{{more}}

Wilford Roache, 60, and Peter Balgar, 58, appeared at the court on separate charges of possession of 45 and 6 grams of cannabis respectively.

They were fined $800 and $200 respectively for possession of the drugs, after pleading guilty.

According to the facts, the men were arrested on July 3, and were taken to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to assist police in their investigations into a number of allegations of pickpocketing.

The police officers then took the men to the house where they were staying at Kingstown Park.

While searching the premises, the police said they found two different bags of cannabis under a bed.

When cautioned, Roache said “Officer, somebody give me a small smoke, so ah was using it.”

On the other hand, Balgar said “That is just a small thing for me, officer.”

Counsel for the men, Israel Bruce, said his clients did not bring the drug out into the public and expose it.

“They had the drug in their room, under the bed. They kept it in the confines of where they were staying…,” Bruce mitigated the offences.

Prosecutor Glenford Gregg asked the court to deport the men following their conviction; however, magistrate Zoila Ellis Browne said the proper application has to be made before the court could proceed.

She said the men were not before the court on any immigration offences and that it was not her job to make the order for deportation.

Bruce, in response, agreed with the magistrate, stating that the law does not say that once a person is convicted there is automatic deportation.

The men came here legally on June 27 and 29 respectively.