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Father of ten pleads guilty to drug possession charge

Sep 29, 2009 News

A father of ten yesterday appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate, Melissa Robertson, on a drug possession charge and was jailed for three years. He was charged with possession of narcotics with intent to traffic.

It is alleged that last Friday September 25, last, Troy Sertima, had in his possession four kilograms 102 grams of cannabis, with the intent to traffic.

Sertima, whose eldest child is 14 years old and youngest 18 months, pleaded guilty to the offence, and asked that the Chief Magistrate (ag) be lenient with him, referring to the many children he has to provided for.

Customs and Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) prosecutor, Oswald Massiah, told the court that the defendant was previously convicted of a similar offence, and “occasionally earns a living by buying and selling…..primarily in the interior.”

Sertima admitted to this, and told the court that he was innocent of those charges, but is admittedly guilty of the ones before him yesterday.

According to Massiah, on the said day a CANU team of officers proceeded to the defendant’s home, acting on information they had previously received.

After making themselves known and informing Sertima as to why they were there, a search was conducted on the home by the CANU officers.

During the search, to which Sertima had consented, a three-foot long duffle bag was found in a bathroom of the house. The bag contained what appeared to be “leaves, seeds and stems”, continued Massiah.

The Prosecutor added that Sertima was then cautioned of the offence and he told the CANU officers that he was given the bag by someone, whose full name he couldn’t remember, while he was in the Berbice River “to make a hussle.”

Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson, upon his plea, informed Sertima that the crime carries a minimum sentence of three years and maximum sentence of five years. The defendant said that he understood this and begged Chief Magistrate Robertson (ag) to be lenient with him. “I have ten children to look after…..It’s not a regular thing for me to do.”

The Acting Chief Magistrate decided to institute the minimum sentence of three years, and an added a $10,000 fine. She also advised the defendant to find a legal means by which to support his family.

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