A STUDENT of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants was yesterday fined $30,000 after he was charged with  possession of cannabis. He told the court that his stressful job and studies caused him to have to use marijuana. Twenty-eight-year-old Christopher Kawall pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him by Magistrate Alex Moore.
The facts stated that he had in his possession 14 grams of cannabis sativa (marijuana).
The court seemed surprised as the unrepresented man gave special reasons for having the drug in his possession.
Kawal told the magistrate that the offence was non-violent and he was not wasting the court’s time. The defendant explained that he used the prohibited substance as tea and he also smoked it.
The magistrate considered the special reason that Kawal gave the court and declined to impose a custodial sentence.