ELTON JOHN FINED FOR GANJA

Elton John was yesterday ordered to pay a fine of $1,200 immediately or serve 32 days in jail by a Scarborough magistrate after he admitted being in possession of two grammes of marijuana at Guy Street, Canaan, Tobago, last Friday afternoon.

The sentence was imposed on John by Senior Magistrate Annette McKenzie in the Scarborough First Court. John, 18, of Canaan, was arrested and charged by PC Carlon Denoon, of Crown Point Police. “Boss, is just ah little smoke!” John told Denoon, according to evidence presented by Prosecutor, Ag Insp Fitzroy Gray. The court heard that uniform-clad PC Denoon was on mobile patrol in a marked police vehicle along Guy Street around 1.25 pm. John, who was walking along the street, pushed his right hand in his pocket and quickened his pace when he saw the police vehicle, the court was told. PC Denoon subsequently confronted and searched John, and found in his right front pants pocket, a piece of transparent plastic containing two grammes of the illegal herb. Asked if he had anything to say before sentence was passed, John said: “I go pay half the money.” “That’s it? You have to pay $1,200 now or serve 32 days,” the magistrate responded.