Teacher accused of dealing in dagga

DAILY VOICE

Graeme Carr. Photo: Mlondolozi Mbolo

Cape Town - A Cape Town teacher is facing charges of dealing and possession of drugs.

The educator was released on R3 000 bail at the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court on Monday. But not before he tried to attack the Daily Voice team and stop them from taking his picture.

Graeme Carr, who was arrested on Friday after a week of surveillance of his Kenilworth home, was found in possession of almost 150 dagga plants worth R250 000.

He was also allegedly found with several cultivation trays, with 10 seedlings each, identified as the Cheese, Sensi Star and Mizare varieties of the plant.

Police say the trees were being cultivated in a specially designed setting with specific temperature control levels inside the bedrooms, as well as drug paraphernalia.

“Further investigations by police have established that the arrested suspect is an art teacher at a school in Gugulethu,” says Captain FC van Wyk.

“Police investigations are continuing.”

His lawyer Asghar Mia told the court that Carr was employed by the Gugulethu Cape College, but the Daily Voice could not find the school to get comment.

The Gugulethu campus of the College of Cape Town, the only Further Education and Training (FET) college in the area, say they have no record of anyone named Carr.

The State did not oppose bail but suggested, because of the seriousness of the charge and the volume of dagga and other equipment present to grow the drug, that the court ask for a bail amount of R20 000.

This was reduced to R3 000.

After the amount was paid by a friend, Carr chased the Daily Voice photographer down the street, and attempted to head-butt him.

“I’ll put you in a hole in the ground, bru,” he shouted as he tried to grab the camera and cover his face.

The friend who paid his bail explained that Carr had had “a tough time” over the weekend while in custody at Pollsmoor prison.

Carr’s friend also accosted the Daily Voice, demanding the photographer’s name, and that his picture not appear in the newspaper.

Carr is set to appear again on July 25.

Daily Voice