$5,000 fine, community service for man found with ganja

A Stanleytown man was fined $5,000 and ordered to complete 40 hours of community service when he on Monday pleaded guilty to possession of narcotics in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.

Michael Campbell, 20, pleaded guilty to the charge when Magistrate Roby Benn read it to him.

According to police prosecutor, Philip Sherriff, while police were conducting patrol duties they stopped and searched the defendant. The lawmen found one gramme of cannabis inside the defendant’s right side pocket.

“The weed is used for my own use. I does smoke it,” Campbell told the court.

He was fined and sentenced to community service. The magistrate also ordered that a court clerk supervise Campbell while he performs the community service. Campbell was also told that if he failed to pay the fine or complete the community service a one-year prison sentence will be imposed upon him.