The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

AMERICAN comedian and actor Craig Robinson told a magistrate he did not know marijuana was illegal in the Bahamas after pleading guilty to two drug possession charges yesterday.

The 41-year-old of Los Angeles, Californian was given the option of a $1,000 fine or six months in prison for possession of the marijuana and ecstasy when he appeared before Magistrate Andrew Forbes.

He faced two counts of possession of dangerous drugs, just seven hours after he was scheduled to leave on Bahamasair for Miami International Airport.

Robinson, who wore short jeans and a brown t-shirt, was not handcuffed or shackled when brought into the courtroom by Drug Enforcement Unit officers. He accepted the fine and paid it immediately.

The star of “The Office”, “Hot Tub Time Machine” and “This is the End”, committed the offences yesterday as he was scheduled to leave the Bahamas. He had been here since October 4 to perform in his “Craig Robinson LIVE at Atlantis” broadcast.

The drugs in question were 1.5 grams of indian hemp and 18 amphetamine pills.

The actor, stand-up comedian and singer, pleaded guilty to both charges. Prosecutor ASP Ercell Dorsett summarised how the charges came about.

Around 8:50am yesterday at the Lynden Pindling International Airport, the American was going through US Customs and Border Protection when he was questioned by an official who asked to check his luggage.

What was suspected to be drugs was found in the luggage. The police were contacted and on arrival, saw and spoke with him before inviting him to take part in an interview.

Accused by the officers, he admitted he had the drugs.

When asked where he got them from, Robinson said he got them in the US.

“The drugs, they were not detected at the time you were entering the country?” the magistrate asked.

“No, sir,” Robinson answered.

“But leaving the country, it was detected this time?” the magistrate then asked.

“Yes, sir,” the actor replied.

When asked if he knew that drugs were illegal in the Bahamas, Robinson said he did not know that marijuana was illegal.

Magistrate Forbes asked the American if he had considered the penalties for committing such offences in the Bahamas as he would have if he were in the USA, adding that each charge carried up to two years in prison.

Upon learning that Robinson was scheduled to return to the US yesterday, the magistrate convicted the actor on both charges and fined him $1,000 or six months at Her Majesty’s Prison.

The magistrate said the sentences would run concurrently and ordered his deportation upon payment of the fine or completion of sentence, whichever came first. Robinson paid the fine.