Bjorn Burke, Staff Reporter

A man found in possession of a number of counterfeit US dollar notes was sentenced to six months' imprisonment when he appeared before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Charged with possession of counterfeit notes is Steve Austin who pleaded guilty to the offence.

Allegations are that on the day of the incident, the accused man, while attempting to board an outgoing flight to Guyana at the Norman Manley International Airport, was accosted by airport personnel who requested a search. It is believed that the search unearthed 47 counterfeit US one hundred dollar notes amounting to US$4,700 (J$537,515) inside his wallet.

"Any reason why you shouldn't go to prison for it?" asked Senior Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey.

The accused, who has an apparent speech impediment, took a while to respond to the sitting magistrate, managing to explain that he suspected the notes were fraudulent as they were given to him by a man in Suriname to take to Jamaica. He further explained that he too was surprised that the notes were counterfeit, as attempts to exchange the funds proved futile.

Subsequently, Austin was sentenced to six months in prison. A fingerprint order was also made against him.