AN ex-soldier on Wednesday escaped imprisonment when he was instead slapped with a million-dollar fine and community service after pleading guilty to ganja-related charges.

The 30-something-year-old Winsworth Reid was slapped with a fine of $1.27 million and ordered to carry out 400 hours of community service in the Mandeville Resident Magistrate's Court.

Reid, who was held on August 22 with 475 pounds of ganja in his car, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment on charges of dealing, trafficking, possession of and taking steps to export ganja. But he will only serve the sentence if the fine is not paid.

During the sentencing hearing on Tuesday, attorney Michael Deans asked the court to be lenient on his client whom he characterised as falling on hard times. Deans further told the court that Reid, who had served in the Jamaica Defence Force for four years, had fallen prey to people whom he described as hyenas — who "sniff" out and bring pressure to bear" on desperate people who would not under normal circumstances do what Reid had done.

Deans also reminded the court that Reid had pleaded guilty from the outset and that he was a family man.

Reid, who was granted bail when he was initially brought before the court, was on Tuesday remanded into custody pending the paying of the fine.

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