WOMAN (25) GETS 4 YEARS, NO FINE FOR E200 000 DAGGA
MANZINI – A 25-year-old woman was yesterday sentenced to four years imprisonment without an option of a fine after she was found in possession of 3.22 kilogrammes of dagga valued at E200 000.
Philisiwe Motsa of Lushikishini pleaded guilty to the offence of contravening the pharmacy act and being found with 47 bags of dagga. Information gathered is that members of the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF) are said to have raided her home, which is situated along the borderline, where they found the dagga.
The members of the USDF called the police from Mankayane Police Station to attend to the matter.
According to the forensic report, the Royal Swaziland Police (RSP) Forensic expert, Assistant Superintendent Martin Dlamini, took the dagga bags to the forensic laboratory to ascertain if the exhibits contained any harmful drugs. The analytical examination was performed and found that the 47 bags indeed contained dagga with 12.8 per cent tertrahydrocannabinol (THC), a principal psychoactive chemical compound of the cannabis plant.
Constable Mduduzi Mkhatjwa informed the court that the police found the said dagga at the woman’s home after receiving a tip-off. The police officer said the woman was about to transport the dagga to an unknown destination on the day of her arrest. “Fortunately we arrived on time and upon knocking on the door several times, the suspect opened the door. She was cautioned according to the judge’s rules and later charged with being found in possession of dagga,” Constable Mkhatjwa said.
The principal magistrate, David Khumalo, ordered that the bags containing the dagga, which were presented in court as exhibits, be counted before the continuation of trial. Motsa was found guilty by the prosecution comprising Alson Mkhaliphi. she was represented by Thulani Sibandze of Nzima and Associates who informed the court that his client was remorseful, hence the plea of guilt she had tendered. The attorney further stated that Motsa was a first offender as eluded by the crown. Sibandze also informed the court that his client was a married woman with three children and did not stay with her husband.
“Your worship, the youngest of the children is sickly and still needs the full attention of his mother. The dagga was found in her possession, however, I have since been advised that it does not belong to her. I would like to request the court to consider an option of a fine as my client is a first offender,” the attorney said. Khumalo said the court considered the fact that the woman had pleaded guilty to the offence, however, she was faced with a serious and prevalent offence which had many people thinking they would be instant millionaires.
“The court has also noted that many people have the belief that dealing in other commodities like fruit and vegetables was a waste of time and dagga had lots of money. People dealing with dagga have to be discouraged as there are adverse effects. victims of dagga are usually the youth who are weak-minded and their future has been ruined,” the principal magistrate said.
He further said many victims of dagga have been admitted to the Psychiatric Hospital whereas the dealers were not in any way victimised.
Motsa was sentenced to four years imprisonment without an option of a fine. she was later transported to Mawelawela Correctional facility by correctional officers.
Comments (4 posted):