A MAN DESCRIBED as a community leader in the Waltham Park area in St Andrew, was sentenced to fours years imprisonment at hard labour after he attempted to export 6 1/2 pounds of ganja to England.
The accused man, Michael Harris, was charged with possession of cocaine, dealing in cocaine and taking steps to export cocaine. He was arrested after the ganja was found in his suitcase on June 29, while it was being searched at the Norman Manley International Airport preparing to leave for England.
Harris told the court and police that a man known as Ronald from Old Harbour had given him the package. He however later accepted responsibility for the package and his attorney pleaded for a light sentence.
Character testimony was given by Angela Stultz, Executive Director of the S-corner Clinic where Harris was a driver and messenger. She testified that he was a hardworking and honest man who they would re-employ after he serves his sentence.
She further stated that he was father of 12 children, seven of whom were biological and five who he assumed responsibility for, after their mother who was his girlfriend, died last year.
Horace Levy, a senior lecturer at the University of the West Indies (UWI) and a member of the board of the S-Corner clinic also testified that Harris was a decent, honest man.
After listening to the testimonies, Resident Magistrate Martin Gayle said he felt that there was more to the story than Harris was stating as he should have been more careful about accepting a package.
He then handed down his sentence, stating that the quantity of ganja was too significant to be ignored. Harris was sentenced to four years imprisonment at hard labour on each count with the sentences to run concurrently. "Consider yourself fortunate," RM Gayle told Harris.
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