DAVID O`Brian (no address given) was, yesterday, fined $30,000 and ordered to do 60 hours community service, with the alternative of three years imprisonment, on conviction for possession of a narcotic. Magistrate Alex Moore, sitting at Sparendaam Court, East Coast Demerara,
convicted him of having 12 grammes cannabis (marijuana) in Sophia, Greater Georgetown,  on February 25.
O’Brian pleaded guilty to the offence but claimed he has a health problem for which he uses the substance as a medication and that is the only thing that helps him with the illness.
He maintained he must use it to go about his daily business and has never before been charged for the offence .
Police Sergeant Bernard Brown, prosecuting, declared that O’Brian’s defence is absolutely preposterous and emphasised the seriousness of the convict’s actions.
The Court admonished O’Brian to pay the fine and complete his service before his next appearance on May 4.