A 15-YEAR-OLD schoolgirl was among five people who appeared before a Port of Spain magistrate on Monday, charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

The schoolgirl, a student of the St Augustine Girls’ High School, appeared in the Port of Spain Tenth Court before Magistrate Andrew Stroude, charged with possession of 196.8 grammes of the drug.

Also charged with the offence were Marvin De Verteuil, 37, Kern De Verteuil, 25, Tiffany Joseph, 19, and Camille John. They were all arrested on Friday at a house at Seventh Avenue, Barataria, by officers of the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau (OCNFB).

All of the accused pleaded not guilty, with the exception of Kern De Verteuil. He was sentenced to six months hard labour.

In passing sentence, Stroude reminded De Verteuil that he had a previous conviction of a similar nature, and was given an opportunity on that occasion to get his act together.

’The last time you were here, you said you had gotten in an accident, injured your back and could not do any hard work.

You were given the opportunity to enrol in some classes to improve your life and here you are before me again,’ Stroude said.

The schoolgirl and John, who is nine months pregnant, were placed on a bond of $65,000, while both Joseph and Marvin De Verteuil were granted bail in the sum of $35,000 and $50,000 respectively.