Barber found with ganja strapped to body

A barber who was found at one of the island's airports with more than three pounds of ganja strapped to his body was on Tuesday sentenced to a combined 18 months in prison in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

Kemar Smith, 31, pleaded guilty to possession of, dealing in, attempting to export and conspiracy to export ganja. The court heard that on February 13, about 8:15 a.m., Smith was preparing to board a Caribbean Airlines flight destined to Barbados when he was searched. He was found with the parcels strapped to his thighs as well as in the pair of shorts that he was wearing. The substance is said to weigh three pounds 11 ounces.

STRESS OUT

When cautioned, Smith said "Me just stress out and want di likkle opportunity so me just tek di weed. Dem did a guh pay me US$1,000." Having heard the police reports, Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague described Smith's actions as "foolish" and "brazen." His lawyer, in plea mitigation, submitted to the court that it was his client's first interaction with the law and claimed that it was an instance of poor judgement. The lawyer stressed that Smith is extremely remorseful and although he has not spent much time in custody, he had learnt a significant lesson. Before handing down her sentence, the judge expressed those offences under Dangerous Drugs Act are considerably serious, particularly because of the severe damage to the country's image.

"Unfortunately, through the actions of many Jamaicans, we have bad name," she said. Cole-Montague, however, said that she would be lenient for two reasons.

"[One] Because of your guilty plea, which I take as a sign of your remorse, and, coupled with that, you have not wasted the court's time. And I am going to treat you as one with no previous conviction. The leniency is that you will not go to prison but the fines, I am of the view, should be substantial, enough to serve as a deterrent to others," the judge guided.

For possession of ganja, Smith was ordered to pay a fine of $15,000 or serve six months' imprisonment and for attempting to export ganja, he was fined $180,000 or the alternative of 12 months' imprisonment. He was admonished and discharged on both charges of dealing in ganja and conspiracy to export ganja. Smith was also made the subject of a fingerprint order.