Two men who pleaded not guilty in the Athlone District Court this week (July 28 ) to possession with intent to supply €8,000 worth of cannabis herb were remanded on continuing bail to a special sitting of the court on September 30.
It is alleged Damian Dejewski (26 ) of Abbeygarth, Baylough, Athlone and his co-defendant, Rafal Juskiewicv (26 ) of the same address, were observed tending 20 cannabis plants in a large field in Carrickobrien in July 2009; however both men deny this.
Inspector Kieran Keyes told Judge William Hamill that gardai valued the plants at €400 each, and that the DPP had directed the case be heard in the District Court. Judge Hamill queried the value of confiscated drugs the DPP regarded as the cut-off point before the case had to be heard before a jury in the Circuit Court, and Inspector Keyes told him it was €15,000.
Surprised by this figure, the judge refused to rule on whether this case should be heard in the District Court or be sent up for trial to the superior Circuit Court; however, he noted the two defendants’ not guilty pleas, and remanded both on continuing bail to appear at a special sitting of the Athlone District Court on September 20, where Judge David Anderson could rule on jurisdiction.
