21-Year-Old Man Gets 12 Months’ Probation For Ganja & Assaulting Police At Calypso Grill After Having A “Psychotic Episode”
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By Alric Lindsay
Mohammed Munrunddin appeared in the Summary Court today, January 20, 2025, to face sentencing for possession and consumption of ganja, possession of a utensil used in the preparation of ganja and two counts of assaulting police. He was given 12 months probation and must complete random drug testing. Upon completion of these conditions, no conviction will be recorded.
Background
According to the prosecution, on January 10, 2024, a Calypso Grill employee called the police after observing Munrunddin with a pocket knife and acting suspiciously. He was also rearranging the tables and chairs in the restaurant.
Upon arrival at the restaurant, the police asked Munrunddin why he rearranged the tables and chairs.
Reportedly, he refused to provide his name and address to the police officers and stated that he was practising his religion because he was Muslim.
He walked away from the police officers towards the restaurant and began screaming “Allahu Akbar” or some words to that effect.
Reportedly, when the officers proceeded to arrest Munrunddin for failing to provide his details, he pushed both officers to their shoulders, and a struggle ensued.
Munrunddin was eventually restrained.
After a search, police found a clear Ziploc bag in his front left pocket containing ganja weighing 4.67 grammes or 0.16 ounces.
Police also found a wooden pipe used for ganja consumption of ganja. That pipe had traces of ganja with 0.09 grams or 0.003 ounces.
Munrunddin was arrested, provided a urine sample, and tested positive for ganja.
Sentencing
In the Summary Court, the prosecution recommended the sentencing starting points and ranges for the offences.
Arguing on his behalf, defence attorney Oliver Grimwood noted that Munrunddin’s incident was “intrinsically linked with the mental health breakdown that he was suffering at the time.” Reportedly, this was seemingly supported by his very unusual behaviour that the police encountered.
Grimwood added that, based on the police interview, Munrunddin expressed remorse and apologized to police officers. This was the case, although he had no recollection of the incident, described by Grimwood as a “psychotic episode.”
Grimwood explained further that after Munrunddin’s arrest, he was taken to the mental health unit and stayed there for quite some time. He hadn’t received any treatment for mental health problems before but noted that in the time leading up to this, there was suicidal ideation with depression. He hadn’t slept for 48 hours and was walking the streets.
Regarding the drug utensil he had with him, Grimwood said that Munrunddin used it to self-medicate.
Concerning the assaults, Grimwood noted that two officers were standing in front of Munrunddin when he walked through the middle of them and came into contact with their shoulders. This was technically an assault, although there were no injuries.
After hearing from the prosecution and defence counsel, the Chief Magistrate noted that she would consider Munrunddin’s young age of 21 years old and his circumstances.
She added:
I accept that you were going through some kind of mental health episode at the time. But of course you are self medicating on illegal substance to assist you.
She warned, however, that the fact that he showed up to the Summary Court for sentencing with a positive drug test was not helpful to him.
Notwithstanding this, the Chief Magistrate placed Munrunddin on probation for 12 months.
During this period, Munrunddin must obtain clean results when he is randomly tested for drugs.
Munrunddin was also ordered to keep his mental health appointments.
If Munrunddin completes these conditions, no conviction will be recorded.
