Derek Achong
A Tunapuna scrap iron dealer has been acquitted of possession of a large cache of ammunition and marijuana that was found by police during a search of his home in 2007.
Samuel Ramesar, of Centenary Street, Tunapuna, was freed of the charges on Wednesday after seven jurors on a nine-member panel before High Court Judge Lisa Ramsumair-Hinds rejected the State’s case against him.
According to the evidence, Ramesar was arrested by police on November 23, 2007, after they executed a search warrant at his home and found over 600 rounds of assorted ammunition and a large quantity of marijuana.
PC Dillon Harper, who was among the officers who conducted the search, claimed that he and his colleagues suspected that Ramesar was in possession of items stolen in a robbery in Mayaro.
Testifying in his defence, Ramesar denied any involvement in the robbery and claimed that the ammunition was found in a room that he had recently rented to a man for a short period.
Ramesar admitted that he had a small quantity of marijuana in his pocket and not the parcel that the officers allegedly found in the room. The officers also seized some appliances, jewelry, and a game console, which they suspected were the stolen items.
Ramesar claimed that he was arrested alongside his pregnant common-law wife and his tenant’s girlfriend and they were taken to the Mayaro Police Station.
Ramesar was detained at the station for several days and was only charged with ammunition and drug possession as the robbery victims did not claim the household items that were seized from his home.
During the trial, State prosecutors did not produce the quantity of marijuana allegedly found at Ramesar’s home as it could not be located at the station. They were allowed to tender the certificate of analysis from the Forensic Science Centre in St James into evidence.
In summing the case up to the jury, earlier this week, Justice Ramsumair-Hinds noted that under Section 21 of the Dangerous Drugs Act, a person could be deemed to be in possession of narcotics found in their property, vehicle or vessel unless they can prove that it was there without their knowledge and consent.
Ramesar was represented by Fulton Wilson while Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Danielle Thompson represented the State.