Alagie Samba Drammeh, a fisherman residing in Tanji  in Kombo South, Western Region, was yesterday, January 15th 2009, convicted and sentenced to a fine of D250,000 in default to serve three years imprisonment.

The Principal Magistrate, Edrisa Mbai delivered this judgement after the accused was found guilty of being in possession of one kilo of the prohibited drug - "cannabis". The accused accepted being the owner of the drug recovered from him by officers of the National Drug Enforcement Agent (NDEA) at the Essau police check point in the Lower Nuimi, NBR.

Despite his plea for mitigation, the magistrate - who decried the misuse of the word "mercy" by insincere offenders - gave him the stiff sentence.