The Tribune

By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Court Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

AN AMERICAN and another man were both fined yesterday after admitting to separate marijuana drug charges.

Matthew Assini, 52, of Englewood, Colorado, represented by attorney Ryszard Humes stood before Magistrate Samuel McKinney on a charge of possession of dangerous drugs.

At around 4pm on August 2 at Lynden Pindling International Airport, Assini was apprehended by police over suspected drugs. After being taken to the Airport Police Station authorities there found three grams of Indian Hemp in a grey pouch inside Assini’s carry-on bag.

The defendant admitted to the offence during his police interview, where he stated he takes the drugs to cope with pain from a shoulder replacement and that he forgot it was in his luggage. Assini said he was unaware that weed was illegal in The Bahamas.

The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge in court.

During Mr Humes’ plea of mitigation, he stated his client is an insurance broker and father who was only in The Bahamas on vacation for a week. After citing that Assini has no priors in this jurisdiction and is remorseful for actions, Mr Hummes asked that his client be spared a custodial sentence. He further said that with the defendant’s early plea of guilt that the quantity of drugs found in Assini’s possession should be permissible given the circumstances.

In view of this, Magistrate McKinney imposed a $300 fine or a one-month prison sentence on Assini.

The other man, Rontaray Tony, 19, of Joe Farrington Road, was represented by Attorney Ian Cargill. He also stood before Magistrate McKinney on a possession of dangerous drugs charge.

On August 1 in New Providence after being pulled over by police in his vehicle for suspected drugs Tony was found with 20 grams of Indian Hemp on his person and in his car.

In the subsequent police interview after his arrest, the defendant said the drugs were for his personal use. He pleaded guilty to the charge.

As part of Mr Cargill’s plea of mitigation, he cited that his young client, who has no priors, cooperated with authorities in this matter and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity to spare the court’s time.

In view of this and the fact a prison sentence would jeopardise Tony’s employment, Mr Cargill asked that the court be as lenient as possible in its sentencing.

Magistrate McKinney then bound Tony to keep the peace for one year, failing which would result in him receiving a $500 fine or risk a two-month sentence at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.