A man who was given a lift on bike but was caught with 0.9kg (2lb) of compressed ganja was slapped with over $20,000 worth of fines last Friday.

Omar Porteous appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court and pleaded guilty to possession, dealing in and trafficking ganja.

No evidence

Meanwhile, the charges against Wayne Dias, the man riding the bike, were dropped as the Crown offered no evidence against him

Allegations are that police personnel were on patrol along the Harbour View main road when two men on a bike were stopped. The pillion rider was searched and a bag containing the compressed ganja was found.

The Crown indicated that Porteous had asked for ride on the bike and Dias had no knowledge about the drug. As such, Senior Resident Magistrate Glen Brown dismissed the charges against him. RM Brown fined Porteous $3,000 or six months for possession, $6,000 or six months for dealing in and $18,000 or six months for trafficking ganja.