A Cape Town art teacher allegedly found to be growing marijuana plants at his home has been charged with dealing in the drug.
|||Cape Town - A Cape Town art teacher allegedly found to be growing marijuana plants at his Kenilworth home has been charged in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court with dealing in the drug.
Graeme Carr, 38, who teaches at the Gugulethu Cape College, heard on Thursday that the investigation into the case against him was not yet complete.
Prosecutor Craig Esterhuyse said two reports from the police forensic laboratory were still outstanding.
Carr was arrested at his Hope Street home on March 8.
The State alleges he was in possession of 120 marijuana plants, 10 seedlings in a cultivation tray and a box containing marijuana.
Carr has been charged with dealing in drugs – alternatively, the illegal possession of drugs.
“The laboratory experts were at the scene on the same day the offence was committed.
‘They said the statements have been written up but need to be signed off by senior laboratory officials,” Esterhuyse said. This would be finished within 10 days.
Asghar Mia, for Carr, objected to the State’s request for a postponement, saying four months had passed since his client’s arrest.
Mia however added that if the State’s request was granted it should be marked final for further investigation.
The State did not oppose Carr’s release on bail, but suggested that because of the amount of marijuana that was confiscated and the equipment used to grow the drug, bail should be set at R20 000.
Mia objected, saying Carr had a fixed address, was a teacher at the Gugulethu Cape College and said R20 000 was “above his means”.
Carr was released on bail of R3 000.
Mia said Carr denied the allegations and would plead not guilty to the charges.
Carr is due back in court on August 6.
jade.otto@inl.co.za
Cape Argus