It took just a stir of the food intended for prison inmate Kyle Providence to turn up a number of prohibited items, including marijuana.
Jamale Harry, 20, of Ottley Hall, had turned up at the main entrance at Her Majesty’s Prison, Kingstown around 11:45 am on August 27, with a black plastic bag with contents, and informed the prison officer on duty at the time that he had brought “some food” for Providence.
He opened the bag, and a container with Chow mein was taken out.
Harry ate a bit of the food which is a requirement for persons bringing food for inmates at the prison.
However, the vigilant prison officer at the entrance decided to stir the Chow mein, and discovered three transparent plastic bags containing marijuana, tobacco leaves and cigarette in the food.
Harry was subsequently charged with inducing prohibited items into the prison.
He pleaded guilty when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne at the Serious Offences Court on Monday. He claimed someone had given him some food to take for somebody, and he had no knowledge of the other items.
The defendant begged for leniency, and told the Court he had a six-month-old baby to care for.
The Chief Magistrate stressed the seriousness and consequences of the offence. As aggravating factors, she highlighted the breach to national security at the prison.
As mitigating factors, she noted that Harry expressed some level of remorse. She also took into account his youthfulness, and the explanation he had given.
Harry had previous convictions but none of a similar nature. He also benefitted from his early guilty plea.
After weighing the aggravating and mitigating factors, the Magistrate fined Harry $700 forthwith or three months in prison. He paid the fine
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