$45K bail for man on marijuana charge

Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards has granted $45,000 bail to Shaquille Benjamin, who is accused of being in possession of marijuana.

The prosecution alleged that, around 8pm on January 18 this year, police were on foot patrol in the Purcell Estate area when they observed Benjamin ‘maneuvering his motor scooter suspiciously’.

Law enforcers stopped the 22-year-old accused.

They then told him of their suspicion as well as their intention to conduct a search of him.

Benjamin, when cautioned, allegedly replied: “Officer, all I got is little weed.”

The court heard that police recovered a relatively small amount of the illegal substance from Benjamin, and then charged him.

Benjamin, who is also a resident of Belle Vue on Tortola, will return to court on December 4.

Another case

Benjamin, in the meantime, was sentenced previously in relation to another marijuana-related offence that happened on March 4 this year.

In relation to that March incident, he was found with 25.4 grams of marijuana. Magistrate Richards placed him on $1,500 bond probation.

She, at the time, also told Benjamin that he would not have to pay the $1,500 if he completes a series of marine courses he was pursuing.