Court orders confiscation of drug money found at village shop

A Glen resident was fined $500 this week for having 257 grams of marijuana in his possession.

Romarno Palmer appeared at the Serious Offences Court on Monday, where he pleaded guilty to the offence.

According to the facts read in court, police were in the vicinity of Miss Irish Shop in Glen when they observed some young men in the shop.

They also observed the smell of burning cannabis and Palmer was behind the counter.

When police carried out a search of the men, nothing illegal was found but Palmer was observed kicking a bag behind the counter.

Upon inspection, police found the illegal substance to which Palmer said, “dem ah some spliff, is mine”.

A total of $745 was also discovered on Palmer, which he said was money for the shop.

But upon counting the cash, which consisted of two $100 bills, three $50 bills, twelve $20 bills, eight $10 bills and fifteen $5 bills, police said that the change was consistent with that of selling illegal drugs.

Palmer had no previous convictions.

When asked by chief magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias to give reasons why he should not be sent to prison, Palmer said that he “don’t cause trouble” and that he had a four-year-old child to take care of.

Palmer also mentioned that his grandmother was ill and he was just helping out at the shop.

The chief magistrate demonstrated leniency, telling Palmer that she was going to give him an opportunity to be in his child’s life.

He was consequently made to pay a fine of $500 forthwith or spend two months in prison.

The chief magistrate also ordered that the $745 found by police be confiscated and the drugs be destroyed.