Lavia fined $5000 for cannabis possession

Viclene Matthews 06.FEB.09

Senior Magistrate Donald Browne fined Levi Lavia $5000 forthwith or two years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty on Tuesday, for having in his possession 3,111 grams of cannabis.{{more}}

Lavia told the court that he is a gardener and he wanted a weed whacker so he was taking the cannabis to a man in exchange for the garden tool.

The court heard that police officers were on stop and search duties at Belle Vue when they stopped a passenger van that the defendant was aboard.

During the search, they found five tape packages in a bag that belonged to the defendant. He was cautioned and he said “officer ah weed”. (VM)