Rastaman held with weed on way to Bobo Hill

Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque delayed handing down a sentence against a Rastafarian man, who was found with packaged ganja as he journeyed to Bobo Hill, St Andrew, for an event.

The defendant, Sherman Tucker, was also spared having his bail taken away by the judge.

"There must be regard for Rasta sacrament and Rasta symbols. You are already before the courts for dealing in ganja and here you are before me again for the same thing, but I am minded to reconsider bail revocation," the senior jurist noted.

Tucker pleaded guilty on Thursday to dealing in and possession of ganja in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court. But Tucker, a practising Rastafarian, said the weed was for his personal use.

"Your Honour, I never have it for sale on the road. I was going to a Rasta convention in Bull Bay," Tucker explained.

Given Tucker's explanation, the judge reserved sentencing, saying "consideration should be given for one's religion and one's spiritual beliefs".

The matter was adjourned until February 26 for sentencing. Tucker was also made a subject of a fingerprint order.

The Crown also withdrew the matter against Kenneth Bundy, who was jointly charged with Tucker. Bundy explained that he is a taxi driver, who was chartered by Tucker to transport him to the event in Bobo Hill. It was reported that police were conducting an operation when the vehicle being driven by Bundy was stopped and searched. Parcels containing vegetable matter resembling ganja were found in a bag, said to belong to Tucker.

When cautioned, Tucker said nothing while Bundy said "Me nuh know nothing 'bout it, me get a charter."