Policeman charged for smuggling drugs into jail

A policeman accused of conspiring to introduce prohibited items into a police lock-up was offered bail when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Twenty-two-year-old Constable Dain Barnes, who was on probation, pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was working at the Hunt's Bay Police Station.

collected package

It is alleged that, on October 4, Barnes collected a package from the spouse of a prisoner at the lock-up.

The package is said to have contained vegetable matter resembling ganja, rolling paper, lighters and cigarettes.

It is further reported that the constable brought the bag into the cell and placed it in a bin accessible to prisoners.

A sergeant on duty became suspicious about Barnes' actions and checked the bin where he found the contraband.

The constable was subsequently charged.

In court, the presiding judge, Senior Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey, said, " He's still on probation? He's not going to make it further you know."

She granted him bail in the sum of $200,000.

The case is to be mentioned again on December 9, as the forensics report was still outstanding.