After being told that he could spend at least the next three years of his life in prison, a Laing Avenue man charged with possession of marijuana yesterday recanted his guilty plea.
Marvin Jawanza was arrested after the bus he was travelling in en route to Mahdia was stopped and searched by police officers. He was observed acting in a suspicious manner and the police as a result conducted a search on his person that uncovered a bag with 30 grammes of marijuana. Jawanza, 19, of Lot 25 Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, initially told Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry that he was guilty.
However, when informed that he faced a minimum of three years in jail and a maximum of five, the man changed his plea.
When asked by the magistrate if he was ever charged before, Jawanza responded in the affirmative, saying that he was once charged with assault but was never convicted. He was subsequently remanded and will be required to return to court on October 20, when the case will be called at the Mahdia Magistrates’ Court.
