A 20-year-old fisherman (no address given) was yesterday ordered to pay a fine of $3,000 and do community service when he appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman to answer a marijuana possession charge.

Daniel Lall, who has no prior or pending matters, pleaded guilty to the offence that said on Sunday, August 4 at Sheriff Street, Georgetown, he had in his possession 3 grammes of cannabis sativa (marijuana).
Police Sergeant Vishnu Hunt, prosecuting, told the court that about 20:48 hrs last Sunday police were on patrol duty along Sheriff Street when they stopped the defendant who was riding a motorcycle.
A search was conducted on his person and a Ziploc bag containing weeds, seeds and stems was found in his pants waist. He was subsequently arrested and charged for the offence of possession of narcotics.
Lall in his defence stated that on that night he met with a friend on the Georgetown seawalls who had come from the interior and his friend offered him a joint to smoke. The defendant expressed his regrets and asked the magistrate to be lenient with the penalty.

He was fined $3,000 and ordered to perform 20 Saturdays of one-hour community service at Kitty Police station, excluding national holidays. In addition, he has to return to court on August 30 for a report. (Geeta Rampersaud)