French national sentenced to 12 years in jail for possession of drugs

CEBU, Philippines - A French national is now among the wanted convicts in Negros Oriental after he was convicted, via a trial in absentia, by the Regional Trial Court, for illegal possession of marijuana in violation of the Comprehensive Anti-drugs Law of 2002.

RTC-Branch 34 Judge Crescencio Tan Jr. ruled the accused Jean Marie Herber guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the offense of illegal possession of 56.7 grams of marijuana contained in 20 match boxes.

Tan sentenced Herber to suffer an indeterminate jail term of 12 years and one day as minimum to 14 years as maximum, and to pay a fine of P400,000.

Herber was convicted in absentia after he jumped bail while the prosecution had started to present its evidence last June 22.

The Frenchman also failed to appear in court resulting in the cancellation and forfeiture of his bail bond. The trial proceeded even in the absence of the accused as his absence was deemed an express waiver of his right to be present, despite notice.

After jumping bail and with his conviction today, Herber is now considered a fugitive in the wanted list of convicted prisoners, the judge said. http://www.philstar.com:8080/region...rench-national-convicted-marijuana-possession

 

I wonder if they count the stems and seeds as part of the 56.7 grams of that bunk weed.