18, pregnant and in court for ganja

STACY MOORE

A pregnant teen and her 19-year-old common-law husband yesterday appeared before a San Fernando magistrate charged with possession of drugs. Selena Doonath, 18, and Akeem Mohammed appeared before Magistrate Cheryl-Ann Antoine. The charge read to the couple is that they had in their possession, 60 grammes of marijuana worth $1,500.

It is alleged the drugs were found in the couple’s Bayshore, Marabella home on Thursday. Doonath pleaded not guilty to the charge while her common-law husband entered a guilty plea. The drugs were also produced before the court. The magistrate heard that Mohammed had one previous conviction for possession of marijuana.

Court prosecutor Cleyon Seedan said the couple appeared in court last month for similar offences. Attorney Ainsley Lucky, who represented the couple, said Mohammed admitted to using the drugs for medicinal purposes. Lucky said his client was involved in a vehicular accident and used the drugs as treatment to help relieve pain.

The magistrate asked the attorney who prescribed the drugs to Mohammed and was told his client prescribed the drugs to himself. The magistrate said she was sure Mohammed could have found a legitimate way to relieve his pain. Lucky also told the magistrate his client is willing to undergo drug rehabilitation.

“He is an expectant father, his common-law wife is one month pregnant,” the attorney said. Doonath was granted surety bail in the sum of $30,000 or a cash alternative of $10,000. The magistrate ordered Mohammed’s criminal record be checked before sentencing. The case was adjourned.

Minutes later, before the same magistrate, another couple appeared charged with drug possession. Dwayne Lutchman and common-law wife Adanna Stuart were charged with possession of 130 grammes of marijuana. The two pleaded guilty to the charge laid by PC Lyndon Ramcharan of Gasparillo Police Station.

The court heard that a search warrant was executed at the family’s Tarodale, Ste Madeleine home and the drugs found hidden in the ceiling on Thursday morning.

The court also heard Lutchman has five previous convictions. He was remanded into police custody for tracing while his wife was placed on $20,000 own bail. The couple will be sentenced on Tuesday.