Tourist fined for drug possession

An American tourist who carried drugs into the Island in her Louis Vuitton purse pleaded guilty to possession in Magistrates? Court on Thursday.

The court heard that Virginia Sullivan, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida arrived on the Island on April 3. Once she cleared Immigration she approached the inspection area where a drug sniffer dog alerted nearby officials to her handbag.

When asked about the contents of her purse, she responded: ?I have prescription drugs, you can go ahead and check.?

When the officers found 9.44 grams of cannabis in her purse, and 0.14 grams of ecstasy, Sullivan said: ?Oh my God, can you get rid of it.?

When questioned about the ecstasy she told the officers she used it to treat for pain.

Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves asked Sullivan if she had anything to say.

She apologised to the court and was fined $1,000.

Unemployed woman cannot pay outstanding fines

A Sandys woman who said she could not pay her outstanding fines because she had dislocated her knee was told she needed to stop playing tricks in Magistrates? Court on Thursday.

Jodie Nesbitt, who was due to attend court for a March 15 trial, was told to pay her fines or show up for her trial next week by Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves.

Nesbitt, 42, has over $2,000 in outstanding fines and is currently unemployed.

She told Mr. Greaves that she thought her trial date was April 15 and could not pay the fines because she was paying for therapy for her injured knee.

He set the trial for April 14.

Drugs case sent to Supreme Court

A man charged with possessing 27 grams of cocaine will have his trial sent to the Supreme Court after entering a not guilty plea in Magistrates? Court on Thursday. Aldo Pace, who owns Aldo?s Carpet on North Shore Road, was remanded in custody until a preliminary investigation into the matter is held.

His trial date was set for April 14.

Crown counsel Shade Subair recommended Pace be remanded because of the defendant?s access to marine vessels.