20 July 2004
Old woman in Brest region may be imprisoned for growing poppies
A district judge in the Brest region recently sentenced an 85-year-old woman to 5 years in prison with a one-year suspension for growing poppies and selling straw. Given her age, the judge gave the woman the minimum possible sentence, and the old lady will be pardoned unless she commits another offense within the year.
To obtain evidence against the suspect, the drug control police had an undercover agent visit the woman at her village house in the Stolin district, who bought poppy straw from her and paid with marked
bills, Anatoly Dzhuro, secretary with the district court, told BelaPAN.
The woman later refused to show where she was keeping the money.
According to Mr. Dzhuro, last year the Stolin district police filed 108 charge sheets in connection with illegal poppy growing, seized 13 kilograms of narcotic substances and instituted criminal proceedings against six people. Thirty-six charge sheets have been filled since this year began. Nine people, including seven retirees, with three aged over 70, are expected to stand trial.
http://brestonline.com/en/news/news523.html