A prison officer who was arrested at the weekend for trafficking 298 grammes of marijuana into the New Amsterdam prison was today granted bail.
38- year- old Joanne Erskine King appeared before magistrate Alex Moore in the New Amsterdam Magistrates’ Court where she pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to her.
The court heard that on Sunday, October 23, 2016 she had in her possession 298 grammes of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.
News Room understands that King of Fort Ordinance, East Canje, Berbice who was on duty at the time and stationed at the security hut handed over a bag containing the marijuana to a convicted prisoner whose name was given only as ‘Tyson’.
He was instructed to deliver the items to another inmate at the facility.
According to information received ‘Tyson,’ a head cook and convicted prisoner and who previously resided at Queenston Village, Essequibo Coast had just finished cooking when he was confronted by King, who asked him to take a bag ,which she said contained medications and biscuits into the penitentiary .
However, as ‘Tyson’ was making his way through an inside gate with the items, he was stopped and searched by a senior prison officer who found what appeared to be leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be marijuana.
The inmate was arrested and upon questioning revealed that the items were given to him by King. She later admitted to giving the convicted prisoner the bag containing the items.
The female prison officer along with the inmate was arrested and escorted to the Central Police Station where the items were weighed and amounted to 298 grammes.
The files were prepared and sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions who instructed that charges be laid against the accused.
King was granted $150,000 bail and is expected to make another court appearance on December 15, 2016.
