An asylum seeker thought the Garda estimate of the value of the cannabis he was caught with was way over the top, his solicitor told Galway District Court.
The man was searched after Gardaí stopped a vehicle he was travelling in on October 12 last and found cannabis to the value of €130. However, the 38-year-old defendant through his solicitor disputed the value, reckoning it was more like €50 worth.
He has four previous convictions on his record including ones for public order, criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon. Judge Valerie Corcoran was told he had no addiction issues.
The defendant is accommodated by Ipas, the International Protection Accommodation Service, and such defendants are not identified in reporting as this could impact on their application process.
The Judge imposed a fine of €100.
