Christopher Thomas, STAR Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A 49-year-old female vendor had her sentencing for attempted cocaine smuggling put off until February in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court, because she had not gone to the probation office as instructed.

Pauline Tapper, of a Catherine Hall, Montego Bay address, had previously pleaded guilty on November 2 to possession of, dealing in, and attempting to import one pound and 11 ounces of cocaine.

On Tuesday, the court was told that Tapper had not gone to the probation office as she had been advised to do on the previous court date, and consequently her social enquiry report was not ready.

Social enquiry

Resident Magistrate Wilson Smith set the matter for February 4, 2013, to allow time for the social enquiry report to be completed and for the case's appointed judge, Sandria Wong-Small, to preside over Tapper's sentencing.

Reports are that on October 22, Tapper arrived at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay on a Caribbean Airlines flight from Trinidad, but abnormalities were discovered when she passed through the airport's security system.

A subsequent search revealed that Tapper had hidden a package inside her vagina, containing a white substance resembling cocaine. Under caution, she said, "Dem promise me US$1,000," and she was taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where she excreted an additional 59 pellets of cocaine between October 22 and 26.