Woman fined after collecting package that contained cannabis
A St James woman who had collected a package from a courier service that turned out to contain more than four pounds of marijuana was fined $16,000 in the St James Parish Court on Friday.
Jullaine Walker, a 40-year-old accountant, appeared before presiding parish judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley and pleaded guilty to possession and dealing in ganja.
The date of the incident was not disclosed, but Walker allegedly went to the courier service office in Montego Bay and collected a package that was discovered to contain four pounds and 15.92 ounces of marijuana.
Walker’s lawyer, Martyn Thomas, told the court that a relative of his client, who owns a farm and is licensed to cultivate cannabis, had called her and asked her to pick up a package from the courier service, and that someone would meet her there and collect it.
According to Thomas, she called the person who instructed her to go to the courier service office, which she did.
The attorney said the police spotted the vehicles waiting in an area where they were not permitted to park, and when the cops approached the vehicles, the person to whom Walker was supposed to deliver the package sped off.
Five Ziploc bags containing the weed were later discovered in Walker’s vehicle, according to Thomas, who added that the relative eventually sent her documentation proving that he was licensed to grow ganja.
“Your honour, she was only trying to do her uncle a favour, who lives overseas. She had no ill intent and never sought to benefit from it,” Thomas said.
“She has expressed remorse; she has pleaded guilty, and has not wasted the court’s time. She simply wants to move on with her life,” Thomas added.
Judge Smith-Ashley told Walker that she did the right thing by pleading guilty, but must be more vigilant since ignorance of the law is not a defence.
Before imposing a $16,000 fine or three months in jail for possession of the cannabis, the judge considered her previous good character and her contribution to society.
She was admonished and discharged on the dealing charge.
