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Almost nine months after he was nabbed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri,Antonio Brown Steelers Jersey UK, trying to smuggle close to 10 kilos of cocaine out of Guyana, Canadian citizen Arthur Manget was found guilty of the offence and will spend the next four years in prison.The verdict was arrived at yesterday after a lengthy trial conducted by Magistrate Fabayo Azore in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.In addition to the four-year sentence, Manget was fined a whopping $9.6M,Pittsburgh Steelers Jersey UK, which if he doesn’t pay,Deion Jones Falcons Jersey UK, will result in him spending another six months in the local prison.Manget was an outgoing passenger on a Caribbean Airlines flight to Canada on April 13 last, when agents of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) intercepted him and found the drugs concealed in the suitcase that he accepted as his own.Prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police Stephen Telford led evidence on behalf of CANU,Rob Gronkowski Patriots Jersey UK, using six witnesses and two confession statements that were admitted by the court.Manget, who was previously represented by Attorney Gordon Gilhuys and then Dexter Todd, eventually had to lead his own defence, and gave sworn testimony.Manget told the court that he was heading back to Canada when he had an arrangement with two persons whom he named to take back some pills to North America. He said when he left his house to go to the airport,Javon Hargrave Steelers Jersey UK, one of the men took his two suitcases to weigh them,Mike Wagner Steelers Jersey UK, but when the man returned he had two different suitcases.Manget admitted in court that he was foolish not to check the two suitcases the man had brought back in place of his own. But the court was told that after Manget’s arrest,Clay Matthews Packers Jersey UK, investigators contacted the two men he had implicated and a confrontation was held. During the confrontation Manget reportedly changed his tune and denied ever receiving the suitcases from the men.After listening to closing arguments, Magistrate Azore found that the prosecution had made out a strong case against the defendant and she found him guilty.In mitigation for a light sentence, Manget,Davante Adams Packers Jersey UK, who is Guyanese by birth,Logan Ryan Patriots Jersey UK, told the Magistrate that he was ill and has two sons in Canada who depend on him for support. He begged for mercy, claiming that the arrangement he had with the alleged drug suppliers was for him to carry pills and not cocaine.Magistrate Azore in handing down the sentence declared that a strong message had to be sent to those who may be inclined to continue to traffic in narcotics. |
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