Latest update April 20th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 09, 2014 News
An ex-prison officer who smuggled cannabis into the Georgetown Prisons for inmates has himself been imprisoned for 56 months after he was caught ‘red-handed’ with the drug earlier this year.
Akeem Vyphuis, 21, who had been a prison officer for the past three years, was found guilty after a trial before Magistrate Judy Latchman, which concluded at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
The officer was found to be carrying a package containing 279 grammes of marijuana valued at $139,500 at the Camp Street facility. Following the bust on July 14, last, he was charged with drug trafficking.
Vyphuis reported that day for work via the main entrance of the prison compound and was shortly after seen by Cadet Officer Cameron throwing a package on the ground.
When it was checked, the package had five parcels inside. The Prosecution said that the illegal substance was in those five parcels. It was later weighed and amounted to 299 grams.
The matter was later reported and investigated, after which Vyphuis was arrested and charged.
Three days after the bust, the ex-prison officer appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to answer to the drug trafficking charge.
The accused denied the allegation and the matter was subsequently sent to Magistrate Latchman for trial.
Returning her verdict on Tuesday after engaging the evidence from several witnesses, Magistrate Latchman ruled that notwithstanding Vyphuis’ defence, she found him guilty as charged.
She had recapped that the ex-prison officer claimed that the Cadet Officer was the one who planted the drug but stated that she did not believe that was the case. The court, she said, believes that it was Vyphuis who had the illicit substance in his bag.
Magistrate Latchman explained that Vyphuis knew he had the drug. Citing a past court case, she had said that the then prison officer knew what was contained in the parcel since he threw it away when he noticed the Cadet Officer.
The Prosecution had on Tuesday requested leave to provide the cost of the drug and it was submitted to the court on yesterday’s date.
During mitigation, the court heard that Vyphuis had never been charged prior to this drug trafficking case.
In handing down the 56-month sentence, Magistrate Latchman stated that she had considered the mitigating factors and that Vyphuis was a part of an organisation which plays an integral role in reforming offenders. She said that he, being in such a position, ought to have known better.
The Magistrate emphasised that there is need for the courts to act as a deterrent for others who may contemplate trafficking drugs. She revealed that thought was also given to the quantity of the marijuana he was busted with as well as the prevalence of drug trafficking.
The ex-prison officer was thereby jailed and fined GUY$418,500 – three times the street value of the drug.
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
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