A bail application made of behalf of one of two men brought before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on drug-related charges yesterday was denied because his true identity is yet to be ascertained.

The accused man, Michael Patrick, and another man are charged with possession of, dealing in, taking steps to export and conspiracy to export ganja following an incident at the Norman Manley International Airport.

Allegations are that the co-accused, destined for Barbados, was apprehended at the airport after arousing the suspicion of the police. It was later revealed that he had ingested several pellets of ganja, which he later expelled.

Fake identification

When questioned, the co-accused said he got the drug from Patrick, who the police then apprehended while still at the airport. A subsequent search of Patrick's vehicle then turned up more ganja pellets, in addition to two fake identification cards bearing his picture. The police later charged them jointly.

In Patrick's defence, however, his lawyer said that he only took the co-accused to the airport and assisted him in perusing some travel documents he did not understand. He said his client had no idea the co-accused had ganja in his possession, some of which had been left back in his vehicle.

Senior Resident Magistrate Glen Brown denied a bail application for Patrick on the grounds that there is uncertainty surrounding his true identity. Both parties are to return to court on October 28.