Three fined for selling rum without licences
January 11, 2008
SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine - Three people convicted of breaching the Spirit Licence Act were fined a total of $29,000 when they appeared in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court Tuesday.
Loretta Ellis, businesswoman, as well as Janesea Morgan and Shane Jackson, shopkeepers of Kitson Town, St Catherine addresses, were charged with selling rum without a licence.
They were arrested by the Guanaboa Vale police during an operation in the deep rural west central St Catherine area last week.
The police said the drive to deal with breaches of the Spirit Licence Act will continue for the next month.
Ellis was charged with selling rum without a licence, having no sign board attached to her premises, and not producing stock book. She was fined $11,000.
Morgan, who owns a wholesale shop, was fined $8,000 for selling spirits without a licence, while Jackson was fined $10,000 for selling without a licence, not producing a stock book and for having no sign board.
Police told the court that during the operation at Jackson's shop they also found ganja and he was slapped with additional charges of possession of and dealing in the weed, and using his premises for the sale of drugs.
Jackson pleaded guilty to the drug charges and was fined $7,500. He was ordered to pay $1,000 for dealing, $6,000 for using his premises for the sale of drugs and $500 for possession of ganja.
Senior St Catherine Resident Magistrate Lorna Errar-Gayle, in reprimanding the accused persons, encouraged them to apply for their spirit licences to legalise their businesses.
Author: TK Whyte
Source: Jamaica Observer
