FORMER PC FINED FOR DRUGS

A FORMER police officer was yesterday fined $10,000 by a Port-of-Spain magistrate after he changed his plea to a drug possession charge. Barry Balcombe of 16 Dundonald Street, Port-of-Spain, appeared before Senior Magistrate Lianne Lee Kim at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court charged with the possession of 9.5 grammes of cocaine. Balcombe, who had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge, told the Magistrate he changed his plea because he wanted to go home to his family and his job.  The former PC is a father of one son and is currently employed as a labourer with the Port-of-Spain City Council.

The court heard that Balcombe, who had one conviction in 1996, was observed to be acting suspiciously by PC Ammon, who was on mobile patrol on the evening of October 22 at Ward Street, Port-of-Spain.  Balcombe was searched and the illegal narcotic was found in his pocket. He was arrested and taken to the Port-of-Spain CID and subsequently charged. Balcombe was allowed 45 days in which to begin making payments or serve three years in prison in default.