A 29-year-old cleaner from Albouystown, Georgetown, was granted $50,000 bail on Wednesday after she was charged with attempting to smuggle SIM cards into the Camp Street Prison.
Shevaghn Samuels appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where she initially pleaded guilty with an explanation.
However, based on her account, the magistrate entered a not guilty plea on her behalf. According to the charge, Samuels was arrested on July 8 after attempting to deliver a package to inmate Ray Smith.
During a routine inspection, prison officers discovered nine SIM cards hidden inside a tube of Colgate toothpaste. She was taken into custody immediately and later handed over to police investigators.
In court, Samuels, who is employed as a cleaner at St. Rose’s High School, explained that she had been on her way to work when a woman she knew, identified as Shaneeza Smith, called and asked her to deliver a bag to the prison.
Believing it was a simple errand and unaware of its contents, she complied. She told the court she was shocked to learn the bag contained SIM cards and insisted she had no knowledge of the illegal items.
A mother of four, Samuels also raised concerns about her job security, stating she was unsure whether she was still employed following the arrest. The magistrate acknowledged the seriousness of the offence but also considered Samuels’ explanation, family responsibilities, and the possibility that she may have been misled.
Magistrate McGusty advised Samuels to gather more information about the person who gave her the package and share it with the police. She also encouraged her to speak with her employer about the situation and the circumstances surrounding the incident. The matter has been adjourned to July 23.
Meanwhile, Director of Prisons Nicklon Elliot issued a warning to the public, stressing that smuggling contraband into prisons poses serious risks to inmates, staff, and the integrity of the prison system.
