Three weeks after pleading guilty to having a small indoor marijuana growing operation at his home, a 25-year-old man from Westmoorings is now denying the charge.
Elias Aboud, of Sundown Road, Goodwood Park, Westmoorings, had pleaded guilty to marijuana cultivation, two marijuana possession charges, two charges for possession of smoking apparatus and one for possession of a taser when he first appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court, on July 1.
When he reappeared before Antoine on Friday, Aboud’s lawyers submitted that he wanted to change his guilty plea to the charges for marijuana cultivation and possession of a taser.
Antoine agreed, reread the charges to Aboud and allowed him to enter his not guilty plea.
During the hearing, Aboud’s lawyers, Ian Brooks and Criston J Williams, asked Antoine to adjourn his sentencing on the other charges as they were still in the process of compiling testimonials on his character and a report from officials of the St Ann’s Psychiatric Hospital. Antoine adjourned the case to August 21.
According to reports, on June 30, Aboud and Alex Franco, of Victoria Gardens, Diego Martin, was driving along Victoria Avenue in Diego Martin when they were stopped by police.
After the officers allegedly found some illegal items in the car and charged the men, they obtained a search warrant and searched Aboud’s home.
At that location, police allegedly found marijuana seedlings in a specially prepared room, more cured marijuana and additional smoking apparatus.
Franco, a sales representative for a Franco Trading and Distribution, was separately charged for marijuana possession and possession of smoking apparatus and pleaded not guilty to both. Aboud is also being represented by Raphael Morton-Gittens.