Alric Lindsay 
By Alric Lindsay
A defendant identified as Cory Godfrey Bowen told a custody sergeant “I don’t give a fu*k” and refused to provide a urine specimen after his arrest, the Summary Court heard, in a hearing that concluded with him being placed on a 12-month probation order.
Bowen faced two matters today: possession of Ganja, and failure to provide a specimen of urine as requested.
The court heard that the offences arose from an incident on March 25, 2025, when police attended an address in West Bay in relation to an unconnected matter. Officers searched Bowen before placing him in a police vehicle and recovered, in the pocket of his black shorts, what prosecuting counsel described as “a small quantity of Ganja consistent with personal use”.
Bowen was taken to a detention centre, where a custody sergeant requested a urine specimen for testing. He was told that failure to provide one would render him liable to prosecution. He replied, “I don’t give a fu*k”, and refused to provide the sample. During a subsequent interview, he admitted possession of the Ganja and said he had refused the urine test because he had recently smoked Ganja and considered it “a waste of time”.
The court was told Bowen had a history of drug-related offending: between 2003 and 2008 he was made subject to three separate probation orders for drug-related offences, with records indicating the initial probation order was breached. Unrelated offences were also recorded in 2016.
Bowen entered guilty pleas to both matters. Defence counsel, Amelia Fosuhene, submitted that Bowen had “accepted his guilt at this stage… a very early, available opportunity” and asked the court to give him credit for the plea, noting he had never denied possession or ownership of the Ganja to police.
After hearing from counsel, the Chief Magistrate said she had reviewed a report on Bowen, noting his risk level “remains elevated”, but that ongoing supervision and sustained engagement had been recommended.
Accepting the recommendation of a probation order, the Chief Magistrate placed Bowen on a 12-month probation order requiring him to participate in counselling and other recommended programmes, to register with WORC and make reasonable efforts to maintain suitable employment, and to submit to random testing. The Chief Magistrate warned that any breach will result in custody.
