Man gets six months on drug charge

Ali, 50, appeared before Magistrate Betsy-Ann Peterson in the Port-of-Spain Fourth Magistrates’ Court charged with being in possession of 49 grammes of cocaine at El Socorro on February 26.

He pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him. But he had an explanation. the cocaine, he said was not for trafficking but for his personal use. The court heard that on February 26, the police were on patrol in El Socorro when they saw Ali and found that he was acting suspiciously.

They stopped and searched him. the cocaine was found in his right pants pocket. When confronted, he said, “Officer, ah was just trying a thing.” He was then arrested and taken to the Barataria Police Station where he was charged.

Ali pleaded with the magistrate not to send him to jail because he had to take care of his parents who are 80 and 81-years-old. But Peterson was not convinced. She said 49 grammes were too much for personal use and promptly sent him to jail for six months.