A farmer was yesterday sentenced to three years in jail, and fined, after he admitted to being in possession of several grammes of cannabis, which he said were for his sick daughter and grandmother.
Fernando Laita, 35, was read the charge which stated that on August 17, at Aishalton Village, South Rupununi, he had in his possession 96 grammes of cannabis, for the purpose of trafficking.
Laita admitted to the offence read to him by Magistrate Judy Latchman. He stated that he would never have had the drugs if his daughter and grandmother were not ill.
Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves later told the court that on the day in question the defendant was at his home when the police visited the premises and requested to carry out a search. Nothing was found on the defendant, however about three feet away from where the defendant was standing, there was a multi-coloured bag at the foot of a tree. The prosecutor noted that when the bag was opened a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems were found.
Under caution, Laita admitted in an oral statement to the crime by stating, “Yes, the weed is my own, I’m doing a fine hustle.”
Laita was subsequently sentenced to three years in jail and fined $30,000.
