western bureau

A mother of two who tried to smuggle ganja out of the island in her panties to ease her financial woes was lent a hand of mercy when she was handed a suspended sentence.

Annesta Gardner, a 33-year-old vendor and hairdresser from Clarendon was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for 18 months after she pleaded guilty to possession of, dealing in and attempting to export 500 grams of ganja in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court.

A tearful Gardner pleaded with RM Winsome Henry to rethink her decision to send her to prison as she was just trying to make some extra money to pay for her plane ticket, which she bought on credit, and to had maintain her two children who do not have the support of their father.

RM Henry chided the mother for her decision but said she would not send her to prison for the sake of the children.

But the judge warned her that a repeat of such an offence would mean an automatic prison sentence. RM Henry also decided not to impose any fines, as she believed that the convicted woman was in enough financial problems.

Gardner was arrested on May 10 after she checked in to board an Air Jamaica flight to Curacao at the Sangster International Airport.

She was in line at the boarding gate when she was searched and 24 packets of ganja found in her underwear.