By FARRAH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A FISHERMAN who was found with over two ounces of marijuana was yesterday fined $200.

Elijah Smith was arrested after officers found $170 worth of Indian hemp in his bag on February 20.

He pleaded guilty to one count of simple possession during his hearing before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes.

The prosecution said Smith was one of the fishermen onboard a Dominican vessel intercepted by members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force last weekend. The court was told that officers went to the RBDF’s Coral Harbour base after the accused was found with 14 joints and a quantity of loose marijuana. They subsequently arrested Smith and took him to a nearby station. When he was questioned in custody, he told officers he bought the drugs to smoke to help calm his anxiety attacks.

After accepting his guilty plea, Magistrate Forbes noted the maximum penalty for dangerous drug possession was five years. In view of that fact, he asked Smith to think about how much more anxiety he would end up experiencing if he were sentenced to time on remand and urged him to avoid engaging in illegal activities. He subsequently fined Smith $200 or two months behind bars.