By TASHIEKA MAIR, Star Writer
WESTERN BUREAU
TWO MEN, CHARLES Jest, 27, of Clarendon and Egberto Pantophlet, 29, of the Netherlands, who were trying to leave Jamaica for Curacao with ganja in their stomach and stashed in their crotch, pleaded guilty to the charges of possession of, dealing in and taking steps to exporting ganja, in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's court on Wednesday.
The allegations are that on Sunday at about 11:30 a.m., Jest went to the Sangster's International Airport in Montego Bay and boarded an Air Jamaica flight to Curacao. He was removed from the flight and interviewed by immigrations officers. He admitted he had ingested ganja pellets.
He was also searched and an irregular shaped package was found in his crotch. The package contained less than a kilogram (1 1/2 pound) of compressed ganja. He was then taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he excreted 31 pellets of ganja also weighing less than a kilo (half of a pound).
Aroused suspicion
On the same day, at approximately the same time, Pantophlet was at the boarding gate for the same flight. He arouse police suspicion when he came out the line and went to the departure lounge. The officer followed him.
He was searched, and a bag he was carrying in his underwear was found with 53 cylindrical shaped packages of ganja. Another package containing ganja was also found in his crotch. He also excreted 15 packages at the hospital. Altogether the packages weighed one kilo (two pounds).
Jest will be sentenced next Thursday, however, Pantophlet was fined $5,300 or six months for possession, $6,400 or six months for dealing and $12,800 or six months for taking steps to export ganja. In addition he will serve a mandatory 20 days in prison.
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