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Published On: Wed, Mar 14th, 2018

Panic attack does not save cocaine smuggler from sentence

Gavel & scalesPHILIPSBURG – A panic attack and fear of having to appear in open court did not save 42-year old Janet Malonier Richards from a sentence for an attempt to smuggle a ”considerable amount” of cocaine from St. Maarten to Miami on August 25 of last year. The Court in First Instance sentenced the woman on Wednesday morning in her absence to a 12-month conditional prison sentence, 240 hours of community service and 2 years of probation.

Richards made the smuggling attempt under pressure from her friend who threatened to publish sex videos of her on social media if she did not comply.

The defendant’s two daughters study abroad – in France and the Netherlands – and she needs a job and an income to help them. After Hurricane Irma Richards lost her job. She spent two days in custody after she was caught at the airport. She had taped the cocaine to her legs.

The public prosecutor saw reason in her personal circumstances to refrain from sending Richards to jail. Instead he demanded a 12-month prison sentence, the maximum of 240 hours of community service and 2 years of probation.

Attorney Safira Ibrahim asked the court for a milder sentence. But the judge did not go along. “The facts are proven and normally this warrants an unconditional prison sentence. The prosecutor’s demand is very lenient,” he said.