Michael Hinds unreservedly begged Senior Resident Magistrate Glen Brown for mercy after being sentenced to a year's imprisonment at hard labour for a drug offence in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

His pleas fell on deaf ears, however, as the RM said Hinds picked the wrong offence tor which to seek sympathy.

Police say that Hinds, a resident of Tivoli Gardens, Kingston, was leaving for St Maarten when close to six kilograms (14 pounds) was found in his luggage. He was subsequently arrested and charged with possession of, dealing in and taking steps to export ganja.

Hinds was admonished and discharged for dealing in ganja and was sentenced to 12 months at hard labour for possession of and taking steps to export the drug.