TRADE EXPORTER June Lewis, of Duhaney Meadows, Kingston 20, on Thursday lost her appeal against a conviction and three-year-prison sentence for attempting to export 9,000 pounds of compressed ganja.Customs officer Therrol Duncan and Constable Nigel Answer were carrying out a routine check on a container of yam at Port Bustamante on January 5, 2003, when they found the contraband. The shipment was destined for the United States.
Evidence was given at the trial that Lewis, who was in charge of Sun Farms Export at 188 Spanish Town Road, St. Andrew, was at her business place on January 3, 2003. Boxes of yam were being loaded on a container when a truck came up with several carton boxes.
Sybil James, who was employed to Lewis as a supervisor, said that Lewis was present when the boxes from the truck were loaded onto the container.
Resident Magistrate Kissock Laing convicted Lewis last April of possession of ganja and attempting to export the weed.
Lewis appealed against her convictions and attorneys-at-law Gayle Nelson and Terrence Ballantyne argued several grounds of appeal. Crown Counsel Lisa Palmer and Maxine Ellis argued that the resident magistrate was correct in his findings.
The Court of Appeal, comprising Appeals Court President, Mr. Justice Paul Harrison, Mrs. Justice Hazel Harris and Mr. Justice Horace Marsh (acting), dismissed the appeal and orderedthat the sentence should run from June 26, 2005.
