WESTERN BUREAU

A Bajan, who was caught trying to smuggle ganja out of Jamaica, was sentenced to nine months in prison in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Roosevelt Turton, 53, pleaded guilty to possession and attempting to export ganja. He told the court that he is diabetic and was trying to make some money to purchase medication, which, he said, were extremely expensive in Barbados.

He was also fined $91,600, in addition to the prison term.

Turton, who admitted to spending 17 years in an English prison for robbery, said he accepted that he had broken the law and knew he would have to face the penalties.

"I tried something and it did not work out," he told Resident Magistrate Winsome Henry. "I broke the law and the law says I have to pay a penalty."

RM Henry fined him up to $13,600 or six months for possession and $68,000 or six months for attempting to export.

Allegations are that Turton went to the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, on November 13, to board an Air Jamaica flight to the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, connecting to Barbados.

A suitcase he had earlier checked in was searched and ganja weighing four kilograms (8.5lb) was found in a secret compartment.