The president of the organisation Ganja Users of Namibia (GUN) and the Rastafari United Front, Brian Jaftha, has been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and is losing his car after being convicted of dealing in cannabis.
Jaftha (45) was sentenced in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in Katutura on Monday, after magistrate Sally Salionga found him guilty of dealing in 97 grams of cannabis, valued at N$1 940.
Jaftha was arrested in the Khomasdal area of Windhoek on 2 August 2019, after he was caught offering to sell dagga to an undercover police officer.
During his trial, Jaftha denied guilt on a charge of dealing in cannabis, alternatively possessing cannabis.
After Jaftha did not testify in his own defence, Salionga convicted him on the main charge of dealing in cannabis.
Jaftha told the court he is the father of three children and is a chess instructor.
He also apologised for breaking the law, and asked the court for his matter to be referred to a social worker if he is sent to prison, “as I do not want to cut my hair and I do not eat meat”.
Salionga said Jaftha was found guilty of a serious offence which affects society negatively.
She said the sentence should not merely amount to a slap on the wrist and should be a clear message that such behaviour would not be tolerated.
In addition to sentencing Jaftha to two years’ imprisonment, Salionga ordered that Jaftha’s car, in which most of the 97 grams of cannabis was found hidden, is forfeited to the state, and that the cannabis must be destroyed.
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