Bolivian woman fined $700 for cannabis possession

Bolivian national, Ivan Allegier told Chief Magistrate Sonya Young that when the police nabbed her in Layou, she forgot she had 192 grams of cannabis in her possession.{{more}}

The 28-year-old woman, who is a volunteer at the Richmond Vale Academy, pleaded guilty to the charge when she appeared at the Serious Offences Court on Wednesday.

She was fined $700 forthwith and a deportation order was made. Failure to pay that fine resulted in a two month prison sentence.

The court heard that on December 23, members of the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) were on stop and search duties in the Layou area when they saw a motor vehicle travelling towards Kingstown.

The vehicle was summoned to stop and a search was conducted. The woman, who was sitting in the back passenger seat of the vehicle, was searched by the officers.

A black plastic bag was found in a denim bag belonging to Allegier. The bag contained plant material resembling cannabis.

When the officers cautioned her, she told them that someone had given it to her.

In her explanation to the court, she said a man had insisted that she take the bag containing the marijuana. She stated that she did not know at first what was in the bag.

She further told the court that she forgot to throw away the drug upon realising what it was.

“I quit my job to come here. I love your country. I respect your country,” Allegier said.

In response, Young said she gets upset when people come to St Vincent and commit these kinds of crimes. Young told the woman that from the time she knew what was in the bag, she should have thrown it away.