Man whipped, fined for dagga

Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Friday April 25, 2014 12:33

 

Urban Customary Court president, Dikwalo Monametsi handed down the judgement after Goitsemang Meto pleaded guilty. Meto was arrested by the police after he was allegedly found smoking dagga in Maruapula last year.

Central Police Station officer, Constable Themba Jiya told the court that they arrested Meto and his friend on August 8, 2013 for being in possession of dagga. Meto’s friend failed to appear at last week’s trial.

Jiya said in court that tests proved that the substance the duo was caught with was dagga weighing 19.1grams.

He said Meto admitted that he knew it was a crime to use or possess the drug. In court, Meto pleaded guilty and vowed to never use dagga again.

In mitigation, he said he was an orphan and had two children he is taking care of.

Monametsi, accepted the mitigation and meted out the lesser sentence, noting that Meto was a first time offender. Monametsi said the offence statutorily attracted a jail term of not less than one year, a fine of P1,000 and strokes.

Meto was ordered to pay the fine before the end of May, failing which he will spend six months in prison.