A FATHER of one was sentenced to three years imprisonment and fined $3.2M after he admitted to having in his possession 1096 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Eon Sampson, 32, of Mocha, East Bank Demerara, appeared before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates Court on Tuesday. The incident took place on April 13, 2017 at Itaballi Police Check Point, Mazaruni.

Sampson, whose spouse is expecting another baby within the next five months, stood in the prisoner’s dock and explained to the court that he resorted to the crime because he was experiencing financial difficulties.

“Sorry for the mistake I have committed,” the unrepresented Sampson told the court, as he explained that he has no previous brushes with the law; he begged for leniency and told the magistrate that he is the sole breadwinner for his family.

Police Prosecutor Alwyn Moore told the court that Sampson was searched at the Itaballi Police Check Point and the narcotic was found inside his luggage. The Chief Magistrate took into consideration Sampson’s guilty plea and imposed the minimal sentence of three years and the $3.2M fine, which is said to be three times the street value of the drug.