The 11-year-old primary school student who was charged with trafficking marijuana last Friday was granted $20,000 bail when he appeared before Arima magistrate Indar Jagroo yesterday. He pleaded not guilty.
The boy, a fifth standard student, was held at his school around 3 pm after a fellow classmate allegedly told security on duty the child had the 23 grams of marijuana and was showing it off. The child was also held with a lighter and two cigarettes. Lawmen said the student’s house was searched but nothing was found on the premises. Officers said the boy was taken into custody at the Arouca Police Station where he spent the weekend before his court appearance yesterday.
The matter was adjourned to May 10 after it was learnt he was preparing for the Secondary Entrance Assessment. The child was placed in the custody of his father after the court heard he was in his mother’s care when the alleged incident happened. The magistrate also ordered that a probation officers report be submitted for the next hearing. (JLV)