Pinoy jailed 9 months for drug possession, bike theft

Eastern Magistrates' Court in Sai Wan Ho

A Filipino was sentenced to a total of nine months imprisonment for possessing dangerous drugs and for stealing a bike in Lamma Island.

Magistrate Bina Chainrai of the Eastern Court imposed a discounted jail term for Jaypee Fernandez, who earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous drug possession and one count of theft.

The defendant’s litigator appealed for a shorter sentence after Fernandez admitted to both charges, as well as a clear record.

Fernandez’s litigator recognised that normal jail terms for drug possession range from 12 to 15 months, and sought for the lower end of the range.

Chainrai then sentenced Fernandez to eight months imprisonment for both drug-related charges, and a month of imprisonment for the theft charge. The sentences are to run consecutively.

Fernandez was apprehended by police on Feb. 11 after 6.54 grams of methampetamine hydrochloride, known in the Philippines as shabu, were found in his underpants. At the police station, he was found to have 0.2 grams more of cannabis resin.

In July, Fernandez was also charged after he stole and repainted a bike from a resident in Lamma Island.