By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Court Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
TWO men were arraigned in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday on separate drug charges.
Delano Francis, 27, appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney on charges of possession of dangerous drugs and assaulting a police officer.
On August 11 in New Providence Francis was arrested after he was found with one gram of Indian Hemp. During this same incident he is further accused of assaulting a female officer while she was executing her duties.
While Francis pleaded guilty to the drug charge in court he pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer.
The accused said that the complainant officer was trying to take the weed out of his hand during the arrest. While Francis claimed he eventually gave up the weed, he also suggested the female officer only injured her fingernail in the act of taking the drugs from him.
In view of this, the magistrate bound Francis over to keep the peace for six-months for the drug charge or risk a $500 fine or three months in custody. For the assault charge Magistrate McKinney granted the accused bail at $1,500 with one surety.
Francis’s trial for the assault charge is set for September 21.
The second man, Job Ferguson, 34, represented by Attorney Milton Cox, went before Acting Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain on a charge of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.
On August 14 in New Providence, Ferguson is alleged to have been found by police with one and a quarter ounces of Indian Hemp. In court the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.
As there was no objections from Prosecutor Inspector Lincoln McKenzie, Ferguson was granted bail in the sum of $3,000 with one surety.
Ferguson’s trial begins on October 14.
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