Magistrate dismisses drug charge against bank employee

AN Arima magistrate has dismissed a marijuana possession charge against a bank employee after it was revealed that the police officer who charged the woman was himself facing charges of stealing money from people during searches at their homes.

Karlene Devinish, of Arima, was charged with possession of marijuana on November 30, 2010.

It was alleged that a quantity of marijuana was found during a search of her house in Trincity, where she lived at the time.

At her trial at the magistrates’ court, Devinish’s lawyer Reynold Waldrop sought disclosure from the prosecution about the charges against the police officer after they found out that he had been charged for stealing various sums of money.

Devinish had also made a complaint to the Anti-Corruption Bureau that $75,000 she had at her home had been stolen during the search. The money, she said, was from the lease of her two cars.

Eventually, in September 2015, her lawyer received some disclosure but not the particulars of the case against the policeman.

According to Waldrop’s application for a stay of the proceedings, since the charges against policeman was charged with stealing money, he could not be a credible witness in his client’s case.

Magistrate Avion Gill upheld the application and dismissed the charge against Devinish.

The bank employee, in a statement to the court, said she has never had marijuana in her possession nor has she ever used the drug.