A Yarrowkabra man was yesterday sentenced to three years in prison and fined $2.7 million after being found guilty of having marijuana in his possession for trafficking.
Andel Solomon, 28, of Yarrowkabra, Linden/ Soesdyke Highway, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, who conducted the trial. According to the prosecution’s case, Solomon, on April 14, 2016 at Kuru-Kuru, was found in possession of 1000 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.
Police prosecutor Neville Jeffers succeeded in proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant knowingly possessed, controlled, and trafficked the cannabis.
Solomon, a construction worker, was unrepresented by counsel and when asked by the Chief Magistrate if he had any final statements to aid in mitigating his sentence, he proclaimed his innocence. He had been waiting on a statement from a witness who was supposed to testify on his behalf but the witness failed to show and Solomon decided to proceed with the trial.
He was found guilty and the Chief Magistrate fined him $2.7 million, which is three times the street value of the narcotic, and sentenced him to three years in prison.
