KINGSTON, Jamaica – A woman who attempted to smuggle one pound of ganja to Curacao, to send herself to school was slapped with a 12-month prison sentence when she appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court last Friday.

Nineteen-year-old Okeena Brown pleaded guilty to possession of ganja, dealing in ganja, and taking steps to export ganja.

“Any reason why you shouldn’t go to jail for this?” Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey asked prior to sentencing.

“I need the money to send myself back to school,” Brown said.

“You couldn’t find anything else to do?” Pusey asked.

“Mi send out resume,” Brown replied.

“Is the first time you going to Curacao?” Pusey enquired.

“I went there once, a month ago on vacation,” Brown answered.

“You can’t afford to pay for subjects but you can pay to go on vacation,” Pusey responded.

She was subsequently fined J$4,000 or six months for possession of ganja, J$8,000 for dealing in ganja, and J$16,000 for taking steps to export ganja, and sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment.

Brown was also ordered to give her fingerprint to the police.

Racquel Porter