Raymond Rodney, who pleaded guilty to marijuana trafficking, was yesterday sentenced to three years imprisonment by Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Rodney admitted to being found with 41 grammes of cannabis, on February 7, at Tabatinga, Central Rupununi.
In presenting the facts of the case, Prosecutor Stephen Telford told the court that on the day in question, ranks from the Lethem Police Station, acting on information received, went to the defendant’s home and conducted a search. Telford said the search was done in Rodney’s presence and a white plastic was found in his ceiling containing a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems believed to be that of cannabis. Rodney, along with the substance, was then taken into custody. The court heard that the defendant was told of the offence committed to which he admitted, explaining that he smokes cannabis.
When given a chance to speak before being sentenced, Rodney told the Magistrate that he was in no position to go to jail. He said he recently underwent surgery, his son was hospitalized in Brazil and he had no one to keep his house. “Right now, I not in a position to face jail because ah had a surgery recently and plus meh son in hospital in Boa Vista Hospital and I in geh nobody fuh keep meh house,” he explained.
Rodney pleaded that he be given an opportunity to pay a fine and begged for mercy.
Magistrate Octive-Hamilton, however, informed the man that the reasons he advanced were not considerations for the court in passing sentence. She told Rodney that she was bounded by statute and as a result would have to impose a mandatory sentence as stipulated by law. She added that since he had not wasted the court’s time, she would be lenient with him and impose the minimum sentence.
The Magistrate explained that the offence carries a minimum of three years imprisonment and a maximum of five together with a fine.
She then handed down the three-year prison sentence and ordered Rodney to pay a fine of $30,000.
