MONTEGO BAY, St James — A man who was ordered to pay $11.8 million after being convicted of drug charges in 2014 is now opting to serve jail time, insisting there is no way he can afford the penalty.

As outlined when he appeared before Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton in the St James Parish Court on Wednesday, Ewart Fowler was found guilty — 12 years ago — of possession, dealing in, and taking steps to export cocaine. The matter then made its way through the justice system to the Home Circuit Court.

On January 26, 2021, a pecuniary penalty order was issued by the court requiring Fowler to pay $11.8 million on or before July 6, 2021. A pecuniary penalty order is a court judgement that compels a convicted offender to pay a sum of money equivalent to the financial benefit they derived from criminal activity.

It is alleged that Fowler did not comply with the terms of the order within the specified timeframe.

He was apprehended on April 28 this year along Howard Cooke Boulevard in Montego Bay, was informed of the allegations, and cautioned before being arrested in relation to the alleged breach.

During questioning under caution, Fowler reportedly stated, “Mi willing fi do time at prison because mi nuh have nuh money fi pay.”

The matter has been set for case management on June 29. Fowler’s bail was extended to that date as the proceedings continue.