Small cocaine leads to 2 years jail

A 29-YEAR-OLD La Romaine man was yesterday jailed for 30 months with hard labour for possession of 0.1 grammes of cocaine. Anthony Bhagwandeen was sentenced by San Fernando Second Magistrate Sonia Aleong after he pleaded guilty. Court prosecutor Cpl Joey Samaroo said at around 11.30 pm on Monday, Bhagwandeen was walking along Independence Avenue, San Fernando, when he was stopped and searched by PC Hugh Elbourne of the San Fernando CID. PC Elbourne found the small quantity of coke in Bhagwandeen’s pocket. Bhagwandeen told Aleong he was employed as a trolley operator at a supermarket and could afford to pay a fine. However, Aleong was not impressed by Bhagwandeen’s assurances. Her decision to impose a custodial sentence was strengthened when she found out he had six previous convictions for various offences including larceny.