THE preliminary inquiry (PI) into the charges that followed the Army flagship drug bust was yesterday adjourned until next year.
Magistrate Maxwell Edwards scheduled the continuation for January 8, 2004 in the absence of Defence Counsel Vic Puran.
In the case, Wayne Inniss, of Lot 130 Lamaha Springs, Georgetown and Shandy Stephens, of Lot 118 Dacama Circle, Mackenzie, Linden, are jointly charged with conspiracy to traffick in 60 kilogrammes 681 grammes of cannabis (marijuana) between May 1 and 11 this year.
Inniss alone faces a separate charge of trafficking the same amount of marijuana by exporting it.
The narcotic was discovered aboard the ‘GDFS Essequibo’ when it docked in Barbados to participate in the Caribbean regional ‘Exercise Tradewinds’.
Both accused ex-soldiers, who remain remanded prisoners, were dishonourably discharged from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) after an internal probe and handed over to Police for the criminal investigation.
They were originally charged summarily but, last August 12, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) instituted the present charges and the others were put down sine die (indefinitely).