North West farmer jailed for growing ganja

Claris Hutson

A farmer who said he cultivated cannabis plants in order to sell and raise money to purchase a chainsaw was yesterday sentenced to three years in jail.

Franklin Valenzuela, called ‘Franklin Anthony,’ was also fined $6,000 after he admitted that on September 2, at Hobadeia Village, North West District (NWD), he cultivated the prohibited cannabis sativa.

In addition, Valenzuela, 47, was arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts with his