Iranian refugee, Mohammad Rezza Najafi Movafagh has made an appearance at the Boroko District Court on the charge of being in possession of marijuana.
He briefly appeared in court without a lawyer before Magistrate Alex Kalandi on Friday.
The 31-year-old was arrested and charged on January 10 over allegations of being in possession of marijuana. A charge that falls under section 3(1)(d) of the Dangerous Drugs Act.
Movafagh’s matter was listed for mention on Thursday, however it was stood over to Friday to give time for relevant court documents to be sorted.
He was allowed bail at K150 by police but Magistrate Kalandi was interested in how the defendant was allowed bail at that amount especially when the charge involved the use of drugs.
The court was to issue a summon for a particular individual who is taking care of the refugee in Port Moresby however the full name of this individual was not available to the court.
The matter was adjourned to Tuesday Feb 14 and police prosecutor who is handling the case is expected to provide the relevant information in court then.
He was arrested by police for having in his possession two-pack rolls of marijuana without any doctor’s prescription.
The rolls of marijuana were allegedly found in his room on January 4 by housekeeping staff at the motel he has been residing in.
According to Police Summary of facts before the court, the defendant when questioned by police CID Drug Squad on January 5, revealed he bought the drugs from a boy in Boroko and consumes it to relieve himself from stress due to his current condition.
He also failed to produce a doctor’s prescription when asked for one by police.
He was flown down from Manus to undergo medical treatment and has been living in that motel in Port Moresby where the drugs were allegedly found in his room.
(Movafagh attempting to hid his face with the leg brace he wore into the court room from the media after his case hearing. Picture by Loop Photographer Kennedy Bani)