The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was fined $1,300 yesterday after he pleaded guilty to possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.

Jean Simbert, 53, appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney after officers found one pound of Indian hemp at his home on April 18.

Police said they found the drugs while executing a search of the accused man’s home sometime around 2.30 pm that day.

While there, officers found a Ziploc bag containing several silver wrappings with suspected marijuana along with $200 cash in mixed currencies.

As a result, the accused was arrested and taken into police custody, where he admitted to the offence.

During yesterday’s hearing, Simbert took responsibility for the drugs found at his home.

His attorney Ian Cargill asked the court for leniency, noting his client’s early guilty plea and clean record prior to the offence committed.

He also told the court that Simbert was employed.

In response, Magistrate McKinney fined him $1,300 or six months in prison.

Also appearing before court yesterday on similar offences was 29-year-old Gabrielle Farquharson, a hairdresser.

Farquharson was charged with simple drug possession after officers found her with 17 grams of marijuana on April 18.

She pleaded guilty to the offence during her hearing before Magistrate Shaka Serville.

Her attorney claimed she used the drugs for medical purposes after suffering from chronic back pain.

The attorney also told the court his client — who had no previous convictions — was remorseful for her actions and promised not to reoffend.

In response, Magistrate Serville reminded the accused that marijuana possession for medicinal use or otherwise was still not legal in the country and encouraged her to refrain from using the substance.

Instead of imposing a custodial sentence for the crime, he ordered her to attend drug counselling classes.

She was told that failure to comply could result in a conviction.

David Forbes, 18, was also arraigned on one count of drug possession after officers found him with four grams of marijuana on April 16.

After pleading guilty to the offence, his attorney told the court he was remorseful for his actions and was only smoking the drugs because of peer pressure.

Forbes also confirmed this and told the court he had been smoking since he was 17.

When asked about his reasons for smoking, the 18-year-old said he was often teased about his size and thought smoking would help him to lose weight.

Due to his early plea of guilt and his youth, the magistrate gave him a stern warning and also placed him on probation for six months.

If he fails to be of good behaviour within that time frame, he risks facing a fine or prison sentence.