17 May 2010

Yacht charter operator in PNG jailed for drug possession

7:25 pm on 17 May 2010

An Australian charter yacht skipper has been sentenced to six months' jail in Papua New Guinea for possessing marijuana on his boat.

A court magistratae has ruled that the Queenslander, Michael Northcote, was guilty of having close to half a kilogram of marijuana in his possession on board the yacht Perenti.

Northcote had pleaded not guilty.

PNG's Post Courier reports the 46 year old is expected to appeal the decision.

Northcote operated a surf charter and was arrested with four passengers in March in the autonomous region of Bougainville.

The four earlier had drug possession charges against them dismissed.