(CNS) Ivan Derig France IV (27), a US national and a new resident of the Cayman Islands was fined $4650 and order to pay court costs this week after he was convicted in summary court recently of bringing 62 ganja gummies when he entered the country. A science teacher at Cayman International School France admitted he knew the product sold legally elsewhere is still illegal in Cayman when he was stopped at Owen Roberts International Airport in August.

France had passed through the “nothing to declare” line where he was selected for a random search.
Asked by a CBC officer what was in his luggage France had said, “Just clothing, obviously.” But during the search the officer found four packs of ganja laced gummies. France admitted that he knew the ‘gummies contained THC and were illegal here.

During his appearance in court last month he said that he was using the gummies to help him sleep, until he could find prescription drugs to deal with his sleeping problems. With no previous convictions and in a precarious position with his job which he has held for a matter of weeks that is dependent on a work permit his attorney had urged the court not to record a conviction.

But the magistrate considered the offence one where it was appropriate to record the conviction against France. She said that while the harm in this case was relatively low the culpability was high as it was a deliberate act of breaking the law. As a teacher she said he should also be held to a higher moral standard.

Its not clear how the conviction will impact France’s job now who is understood to be a IBL specialist but issues in relation to his permit are a matter for immigration and not the summary court. CNS has learned however, that the school issued a circular indicating another teacher will be taking France’s classes in future.