WESTERN BUREAU

A single parent, who tried to export ganja, was sentenced to six months in prison after he pleaded guilty in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday.

Mark Thomas, 36, of Great Pond, Ocho Rios, St. Ann, was initially charged with his 22-year-old travelling companion, Tanesia Gordon.

He claimed full responsibility for nine pounds 10 ounces of ganja found in suitcases they were travelling with. The charges were subsequently withdrawn against Gordon.

Thomas pleaded guilty to possession, dealing in and attempting to export ganja.

Allegations say Thomas and Gordon went to the Sangster International Airport on October 5 to board an Air Jamaica flight to Curaçao. They were stopped and interviewed separately and their suitcases searched. Each suitcase had 11 wooden hangers containing ganja.

Thomas' attorney, Dalton Reid, told the court his client was going to Curaçao for a craft festival and was made an offer to take the drugs.

Reid said his client was playing the dual role of mother and father to his 12-year-old son, who just started high school, and took up the offer as he was unemployed and needed the money. He in turn asked for leniency for his client for the sake of the child.

However, RM Winsome Henry in passing sentence expressed her displeasure at the fact that the female accused had spent two weeks in custody, because of Thomas' illegal engagement. She said, at Thomas' age, he should have known better.

Thomas was also fined $14,400 or six months for possession and $70,000 or six months for attempting to export ganja.