36 year old Jason Anderson, of a Mt. Salem address in St. James, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and fined $3000 when he appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate’s court yesterday, after he was found guilty of possession of an offensive weapon, possession of cocaine, assault at common law and larceny.
According to reports, Anderson has spent most of his live in and out of prison. The court heard that on February 10, a man parked his car in the vicinty of the City Centre Building, and left the two front windows open. The man reportedly returned to find Anderson inside the car, and when he asked him what he was doing in there, Anderson reportedly told him that he was hungry and looking for money to buy food.
Anderson then reportedly pulled a knife, slashed at the complainant, and attempted to escape. He was chased by security guards and the police, and eventually held and charged.
He was fined $3000 or 10 days in prison for the offensive weapon; six months at hard labour for possession of cocaine and assault at common law; and 18 months at hard labour for larceny.
40 year old Nayman Harriott, who attempted to smuggle two ounces of cocaine out of the island by hiding it inside his bottom (rectum), was sentenced yesterday in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court to 16 months imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay a fine of J$50,000, or serve an additional three months behind bars for possession of cocaine.
Harriott had pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to export cocaine, but his sentence was reduced by three months, after an impassioned plea by his attorney, who reportedly told the court that Harriott was an only-child whose parents depend on him for support. He had been held recently at the Norman Manley International Airport, while attempting to board a flight bound for England, with three pellets of cocaine totaling two ounces, hidden inside his rectum.
Cornel Bell, a 37 year old car sales clerk of West Midland in England, appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday for breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act. Bell is accused of attempting to export four pounds of cocaine to England. He was arrested and charged at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston on October 8, after the cocaine was reportedly found in a Festival Dough Mix and a Betty Crocker Cake Mix that was in his luggage.
However, Bell’s lawyer told the court that his client claims he had bought the items at a supermarket in St. Elizabeth, and was not aware that they contained drugs. His lawyer also contested the amount of cocaine that was found, saying it was four ounces, not four pounds.
Bell pleaded not guilty to possession of, dealing in and taking steps to export cocaine. A bail application was made, however the Resident Magistrate said he could not be offered bail until the court received the forensic certificate indicating the amount of drug. Bell was remanded in custody and is to return to court on October 22.
