Policeman Joel London was yesterday freed of marijuana trafficking charges before Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde at the Scarborough Magistrates' First Court, Tobago.

London, the nephew of Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Orville London, was represented by attorney Martin George, who cross-examined the State's witnesses and challenged their credibility.

The case for the State involved allegations of trafficking marijuana within the vicinity of a school compound, Bon Accord Primary School, and State attorney Chinnebass put a search warrant in evidence, which alleged that police found 39 packets of marijuana in clear plastic bags at the residence of Joel London.

There was no physical evidence of the 39 packets before the Court and instead the State, in its prosecution of the matter, sought to rely on allegedly finding only one packet of the substance on Joel London, which was not part of the 39 allegedly found.

After rigorous and intensive cross-examination of State witnesses, it was revealed the one packet allegedly found on his person was never mentioned or endorsed on the warrant nor was any mention ever made on the warrant about searching Joel London's person.

The State's case shifted from one person being searched to two people being searched, and the search moved from having taken place in the gallery of the house to being done at the front door of the dining room as the witnesses contradicted each other.

Based on the poor nature and quality of the evidence and after the cross-examination by George, the magistrate ruled that no case was made out against Joel London and dismissed the matter.

Joel London and his relatives were ecstatic as they left the court as he has been on suspension while he had matters pending in the court.

George indicated he would be discussing with his client the issue of suing the State for malicious prosecution.