MONTEGO BAY, St James -British educator Anthony Goveia, 48, was jailed for nine months last Friday after he pleaded guilty to breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Senior Resident Magistrate Winsome Henry, who handed down the sentence in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate’s Court, also fined Goveia $300,000 for possession of and dealing in cocaine.

The Court heard that Goveia, an educational theatre director with 30 years experience, was about to board an Air Jamaica flight to London, when he was caught.

He was searched at security check point at the Sangster International airport and two bottles containing 15.77 oz of liquid cocaine was found inside his hand luggage.

Goveia was sentenced to nine months for possession of cocaine, and fined $100,000; or serve a further six months if the money is not paid. He was additionally sentenced to nine months for dealing in cocaine. A further sentence of nine months was imposed for his attempt to export the drug. This was accompanied by a fine of $200,000, which if not paid, would attract a further six-month sentence.

The sentences are to run concurrently, so Goveia will do nine months in prison and pay a fine of $300,000, or serve a further 12 months if the sum is not paid.

Goveia’s attorney, Morell Beckford entered a plea of leniency, telling the court that Goveia had lost his money while vacationing on the island. The attorney told the court that Goveia was subsequently advanced a loan by a friend in the UK, who in turn asked his unsuspecting client to collect the two bottles, which turned out to contain liquid cocaine.

Beckford told the court that his client worked with children in the UK, and advocated against the use of drugs.

Prior to handing down the sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Henry described Goveia’s action as “foolish”.

“You work with children who you encourage not to use drugs. You don’t use drugs, and encourage others not to use drugs. You are supposed to set an example.”

The nine months sentence will run from February, when Goveia was incarcerated.