Man to do community service for ganja possession

A little bit of begging paid off for a 23-year-old man who was caught with cannabis.
Odingo Haywood appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday to answer to the charge of possession of narcotics.
The charge stated that on April 28, 2019, Police ranks on patrol from Brickdam Police Station noticed Haywood acting in a suspicious manner when he saw the vehicle approaching him. According to the prosecution’s case, the 23-year-old man was riding a bicycle and upon noticing the police, he started acting in a suspicious manner, causing the ranks to stop and search him.
During the search, one gram of cannabis was found in the left side pocket of his pants. He was subsequently arrested. Haywood admitted to the charge after it was read to him.
In a plea of mitigation, the man begged Magistrate McLennan to be lenient with him.
“I am willing to pay a fine and do community service once given the opportunity,” he said, adding that he suffers from asthma and the cannabis helps him.
Magistrate McLennan reprimanded the young man, pointing out to him that he is too young to be involved in illegal activities.
“You’re young and you shouldn’t be smoking cannabis,” the Magistrate said.
Haywood was sentenced to two weeks of community service at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Failure to do his community service will result in him spending four weeks in jail.