An man appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday on drug charges.

The accused man, Afijate Koese, 41, from Suriname, was charged with possession of cocaine, dealing in cocaine and importing cocaine.

An electrician by profession, it is alleged that the accused man was found with 127 cylindrical shaped pellets amounting to one pound and two ounces of cocaine.

damaged his intestine

The cocaine, which it is alleged that the accused man ingested, is reported to have damaged his intestine. According to Koese's lawyer, this is the first offence the accused has committed. He said he is therefore asking the court for leniency, adding that the accused man is a father of six children.

Koese was given the option of paying $150,000 or spending six months in prison for possession of cocaine, $200,000 or six months for dealing cocaine and $250,000 or six months for importing cocaine. He was also given an additional 12 months in prison for his actions.