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Drug deal gone bad

Drug transaction at treatment centre, leads to jail sentence

Oct 24, 2019 | 2:21 PM

A woman who sold drugs to a man working at an Indigenous drugs and alcohol treatment centre, has received a 10-month jail sentence.

Heather Nayneecassum, 43, was sentenced Wednesday morning at Prince Albert Provincial Court, in connection to an incident that happened July 3, 2019, at the Cree Nations Treatment Haven on the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation.

According to the statement of facts read in court by the federal Crown prosecutor, Nayneecassum went to the treatment centre early in the afternoon and told the security guard she was there to deliver cigarettes to a worker.

Nayneecassum was later seen on security camera handing a small wrapped paper package to a man, who then tossed it on the ground. When security inspected the package they found a small amount of methamphetamine inside.

Judge Felicia Daunt noted while the amount of drugs was small, the crime remained serious, as the transaction occurred at a place where people went to recover from substance abuse.

The man accused of buying the drugs from Nayneecassum, Perry Sasakamoose, is scheduled to make his next court appearance on Nov. 13.

Outside of court, the director of the treatment centre, Freda Ahenakew said the incident was very troubling and since then, they’ve increased the number of on-duty security staff.

“We have to do everything we can to provide the proper services [for the patients]. We can’t have somebody coming here trafficking crystal meth,” she said.

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

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