Magistrate Fazil Azeez yesterday sentenced a man, who admitted having in his possession a utensil used for smoking, to one year imprisonment when he appeared at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court.

Joseph King called ‘Jugger’ of Lot 162 Parika, East Bank Essequibo admitted to the possession of a smoking utensil charge. Police Prosecutor Jacqueline Skinner told the court that the utensil was found when the police carried out a search on the man last Friday at Parika.

She said that he is known to the police and is a “junkie” [an addict]. King told the court that while at the Parika Stelling he picked up a rag and the item was inside.

When he was handed the sentence he begged the court to let him go free, saying that after nine years he had recently made contact with his daughter who resides in the United States. He said that he only smoked “occasionally”.