Father of 13 charged after 21-lbs ganja bust

A father of 13 was remanded to prison yesterday after being charged with possession of over 20 pounds of cannabis, which police found in a taxi on Sheriff Street, in Georgetown.

Vendor Rudy Cort, of 327 Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke-Linden High-way, was brought to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where he was charged with possession of narcotics for trafficking.

The charge against Cort stated that on May 3rd, he along with taxi driver Lindon Humphrey were caught at Sheriff Street with 9.590 kilogrammes of cannabis, equivalent to 21.1 pounds, in the trunk of a vehicle. The vehicle, HC 9353, is the property of Humphrey.

Prosecutor Sanj Singh said Cort claimed ownership of the cannabis after he and Humphrey were arrested and taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters, where statements were given. However, Cort pleaded not guilty yesterday.

Cort’s attorney, Siand Dhurjon, informed the court that his client was on his way to Stabroek Market, where he is a vendor, when the drugs were found and that his client was merely a passenger sitting in the front seat of the vehicle.

Dhurjon further described Cort as a hard working father of 13 and a God fearing man and member of the Assemblies of God church. He also stated that if the marijuana had belonged to Cort, his other possessions might have been in the trunk with it. However, he said Cort was found with a bag of hats and other items, which he sells.

After both the prosecutor and the attorney made their submissions, Senior Magistrate Leron Daly adjourned the matter until Friday and remanded Cort to prison until then.