A MAN charged with possessing a prohibited drug and driving with an illicit drug in his system has been convicted and fined.
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Said Alameddine, 37, of Napoleon Reef Road, Napoleon Reef, appeared before magistrate Cate Follent in Bathurst Local Court.
Police facts handed to the court outlined how Alameddine drove a white Mercedes Kompressor on September 11, 2018 with cannabis in his blood, and also had in his possession 3.8 grams of cannabis.
His solicitor, Ms Murray, told the court her client had been self-medicating with cannabis as he has problems with his hips after being in two car accidents.
Police facts said Alameddine’s Kompressor was seen parked facing the wrong direction outside a Havannah Street address at 4.40pm on September 11.
Police attempted to speak to Alameddine, but he drove into the driveway.
Police approached the driver’s side window, spoke to the accused, and determined he did not live at the address.
He was given a roadside breath test, which was negative, but an oral fluid test returned a positive detection to cannabis.
Police said the accused was sweating, drawing out his words slowly and fidgeting and formed the opinion there might be drugs in the vehicle, so the vehicle and Alameddine were searched.
In the left pocket of the accused’s jacket, police found a plastic resealable bag containing a bud of cannabis, weighing 3.8 grams.
He was arrested for the purpose of an oral fluid test and taken to Bathurst Police Station.
Alameddine was cautioned and provided a sample of oral fluid sufficient for analysis. It returned a positive result.
In relation to taking drugs, the accused told police he had smoked a joint earlier that day, according to the police facts.
For driving with an illicit drug in his blood, Alameddine was convicted and fined $500 and disqualified for three months from February 5, 2019. For possessing a prohibited drug, he was convicted and fined $500.