Tashieka Mair, Star Writer

WESTERN BUREAU

After spending seven days in the Montego Freeport Police Station lock-up, 67-year-old Ishmael Thompson of Ocho Rios, St. Ann, was not looking forward to life in prison.

The elderly man, who was trying to leave the island via Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay, with four kilograms of ganja strapped to his body, threw himself at the mercy of the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court after pleading guilty on Friday.

Mr. Thompson told the court that he was trying to get money to help his adopted son to further his education.

Mr. Thompson, who is diabetic and hypertensive, also apologised for initially lying to the police, denying the knowledge that he had the drugs.

RM Winsome Henry told him that he should be going to prison, but that she would exercise leniency as prison, in his condition, would be a nightmare.

He was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for two years. However, he will need to pay fines of $64,000 for attempting to export ganja, and $12,800 for possession or six months in prison.

Mr. Thompson was arrested on October 5 after packages of ganja were found strapped to his waist and buttocks. He was a wheelchair passenger who had checked in to board an Air Jamaica flight to Barbados.